HWN Suggests

Anaphylaxis Recognition and management

Typical reactions with skin manifestations (urticaria) plus cardiovascular or respiratory involvement are easily diagnosed. However, some reactions are atypical and recognised only when the diagnosis is considered because of the context. A sudden onset of symptoms affecting two or more organ systems or just hypotension on its own, even without skin involvement, should trigger consideration of the diagnosis in the right context, ie. recent exposure to a potential allergen or stimulant...

Anaphylaxis must be considered as a possible cause in any case of acute respiratory distress, bronchospasm, hypotension and/or cardiac arrest.

read full article

Articles of Interest

Allergic and Immunologic Emergencies

By learning more about these diseases that result from problems with our immune system, we can make a difference where it matters most—the care of our patients.

Allergy And Anaphylaxis: Principles Of Acute Emergency Management

Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis are potentially life-threatening processes that present with a variety of clinical symptoms. Anaphylaxis is caused by an immediate hypersensitivity response mediated by immunoglobulin-E (IgE) that releases inflammatory mediators from mast cells in tissues and from basophils into circulation. This IgE-mediated response follows a previous exposure to an allergen and sensitization to it, and it results in a rapid, potentially life-threatening reaction.

Medical emergencies: anaphylaxis

A reaction can take many forms and people who have reacted one way when exposed to a particular allergen can react completely differently on another occasion when exposed to the same thing. It is therefore extremely difficult to predict what a reaction might look like.