Central Auckland, East Auckland, North Auckland, South Auckland, West Auckland > Private Hospitals & Specialists >
Dr Jan Sinclair - Paediatric Allergist
Private Service, Paediatrics, Allergy and Immunology
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which can be life threatening. Triggers of anaphylaxis can include insect stings, drugs and foods. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and urgent medical attention should always be sought.
Common signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are listed on the ASCIA anaphylaxis plans and these are:
- difficult/noisy breathing
- swelling of tongue
- swelling/tightness in throat
- difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
- wheeze or persistent cough
- loss of consciousness and/or collapse
- pale and floppy (in young children).
If there is a history of an anaphylactic reaction, management generally involves:
- identifying the trigger - this may be obvious on history, and will often require confirmatory tests
- education on avoidance to try and prevent further episodes
- development of an anaphylaxis action plan, which will most often include the use of an adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen or AnaPen).
Was this page helpful?
This page was last updated at 9:25AM on September 20, 2023.