Anaphylaxis is an acute allergic reaction driven by a type 1 hypersensivity reaction resulting in multi-systems compromise.

Triggers

Causes of anaphylaxis include:

• Animals: insect stings, animal dander
• Food: nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, eggs, milk
• Medication: antibiotics, IV contrast, NSAIDs

PC

• Airway: swollen lips/tongue, sneezing
• Breathing: wheezing, shortness of breath
• Circulatory: tachycardia, hypotension/shock, angioedema
• Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting
• Skin: urticaria, pruritis, flushed skin

Investigations

• Serum levels of mast cell tryptase can be measured to confirm a diagnosis of anaphylaxis

Management

• The critical treatment is adrenaline (1:1000, IM) - if no sufficienct response after 5 minutes give a second dose of adrenaline
  • If patient still does not improve involve anaesthetics for a IV adrenaline infusion