Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by rapidly developing symptoms that affect the airway, breathing, and circulation. It is usually caused by exposure to an allergen that triggers an immune response involving immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. Common triggers include stings, nuts, foods, medications, and latex. Treatment involves rapidly assessing the airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure, administering epinephrine, supplemental oxygen, intravenous fluids, antihistamines, and corticosteroids, and monitoring the patient closely. Prompt recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis is critical in preventing fatalities.

4. Anaphylaxis is:
–A severe, life-threatening, generalized or systemic
hypersensitivity reaction
Anaphylaxis is characterized by:
–Rapidly developing, life threatening, Airway and/or
Breathing and or Circulation problems
–Usually with skin and/or mucosal changes

6. •Mainly children and young adults
•Commoner in females
•Incidence seems to be increasing

8. Stings 47 29 wasp, 4 bee, ? 14
Nuts 32 10 peanut, 6 walnut, 2 almond, 2 brazil, 1 hazel, 11 mixed
or ?
Food 13 5 milk, 2 fish, 2 chickpea, 2 crustacean, 1 banana, 1 snail
? Food 18 5 during meal, 3 milk, 3 nut, 1 each - fish, yeast, sherbet,
nectarine, grape, strawberry
Antibiotics 27 11 penicillin, 12 cephalosporin, 2 amphotericin, 1
ciprofloxacin, 1 vancomycin
Anaesthetic drugs 35 19 suxamethonium, 7 vecuronium, 6 atracurium, 7 at
induction
Other drugs 15 6 NSAID, 3 ACEI, 5 gelatins, 2 protamine, 2 vitamin K, 1
each - etoposide, diamox, pethidine, local anaesthetic,
diamorphine, streptokinase
Contrast media 11 9 iodinated, 1 technetium, 1 fluorescine
Other 4 1 latex, 1 hair dye, 1 hydatid,1 idiopathic
Suspected triggers for fatal anaphylactic reactions in the UK between 1992‐2001

10. Adapted from Pumphrey RS. Lessons for management of anaphylaxis from a
study of fatal reactions. Clin Exp Allergy 2000;30(8):1144-50.

11. Pathophysiology
 Initial contact sensitizes the immune system
(does not produce clinical response)
 A secondary reaction, mediated by IgE, causes
the clinical symptoms of anaphylaxis.
 Antigens that stimulate the immune system to
produce IgE are called “Allergens”

12. Antigen Specific IgE
Fab
Fc
Mast Cell &
Basophils
Y Y YY Y Y
Mast Cell Mediators of Anaphylaxis:
Pre-Formed: Newly Formed:
Histamine Leukotrienes
Typtase, etc. Platelet-activating Factor
NCF-A Prostaglandin D2

13. •Immediate Hypersensitivity.
•Mediated By Ige
•Causes The Release of Histamine,
Leukotrienes
Prostaglandins
From Mastcells and Basophils.
•Usually Atopic (Familial Predisposition.
1. Ige Binds To Mast Cells
2. Antigen Cross Bridging
3. Histamine Release (Mast Cell Degranulation)

14. Urticaria

15. Angioedema

16. •Diagnosis not always obvious

17. •Sudden onset and rapid progression of symptoms
•Life-threatening Airway and/or Breathing and/or
Circulation problems
•Skin and/or mucosal changes
(flushing, urticaria,angioedema)

18. •Exposure to a known allergen/trigger
for the patient helps support the
diagnosis

19. •Skin or mucosal changes alone are not a sign of an
anaphylactic reaction
•Skin or mucosal changes can be subtle or absent in up to
20% of reactions (some patients can have only a decrease
in blood pressure i.e., a Circulation problem)
•There can also be gastrointestinal symptoms
(e.g. vomiting, abdominal pain, incontinence)

20. •Airway swelling e.g. throat and tongue swelling
•Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
•Sensation that throat is ‘closing up’
•Hoarse voice
•Stridor

21. •Shortness of breath
•Increased respiratory rate
•Wheeze
•Patient becoming tired
•Confusion caused by hypoxia
•Cyanosis (appears blue) –a late sign
•Respiratory arrest

22. •Signs of shock –pale, clammy
•Increased pulse rate (tachycardia)
•Low blood pressure (hypotension)
•Decreased conscious level
•Myocardialischaemia/ angina
•Cardiac arrest
DO NOT STAND PATIENT UP

23. •Sense of “impending doom”
•Anxiety, panic
•Decreased conscious level caused by airway,
breathing or circulation problem

24. •Skin changes often the first feature
•Present in over 80% of anaphylactic reactions
•Skin, mucosal, or both skin and mucosal changes

25. •Erythema–a patchy, or generalised, red rash
•Urticaria(also called hives, nettle rash,wealsor welts) anywhere on the body
•Angioedema-similar tourticaria but involves swelling of deeper tissues
e.g. eyelids and lips, sometimes in the mouth and throat

26. Life-threatening conditions:
•Asthma -can present with similar symptoms and
signs to anaphylaxis, particularly in children
•Septic shock –hypotension with
petechial/purpuricrash

27. Non-life-threatening conditions:
•Vasovagal episode
•Panic attack
•Breath-holding episode in a child
•Idiopathic (non-allergic) urticaria or angioedema
Seek help early if there are any doubts about the
diagnosis

32. Anaphylactic Reaction?
Assess : Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
Diagnosis-look for:
•Acute onset of illness •Life threatening features 1
•And usually skin changes
+/-Exposure to known allergen
+/-Gastrointestinal symptoms
Call for help
Lie patient flat and raise legs (if breathing not impaired)
Adrenaline
When skills and equipment available:
A. Establish airway
B. High flow oxygen Monitor:
C.IVfluidchallenge3 •Pulse oximetry
Chlorphenamine4 •ECG
Hydrocortisone5 •Blood pressure Anaphylactic

33. Intra-muscular adrenaline
Adrenaline
IM doses of 1:1000 adrenaline (repeat after 5 min if no better)
Adult or child more than 12 years: 500microgramsIM(0.5mL)
Child 6 ‐12 years: 300 micrograms IM(0.3mL)
Child 6 months ‐6 years: 150microgramsIM(0.15mL)
Child less than 6 months: 150 micrograms IM (0.15mL)

34. Caution with intravenous adrenaline
For use by experts only
Monitored patient

35. Anaphylactic Reaction?
Assess : Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
Diagnosis-look for:
•Acute onset of illness •Life threatening features 1
•And usually skin changes
+/-Exposure to known allergen
+/-Gastrointestinal symptoms
Call for help
Lie patient flat and raise legs (if breathing not impaired)
Adrenaline
When skills and equipment available:
A. Establish airway
B. High flow oxygen Monitor:
C.IVfluidchallenge3 •Pulse oximetry
Chlorphenamine4 •ECG
Hydrocortisone5 •Blood pressure Anaphylactic

36. •Once IV access established
•500 –1000mLIV bolus in adult
•20mL/Kg IV bolus in child
•Monitor response -give further bolus as necessary
•Colloid or crystalloid
(0.9% sodium chloride or Hartmann’s)
•Avoid colloid, if colloid thought to have caused reaction

37. •Second line drugs
•Use after initial resuscitation started
•Do not delay initial ABC treatments
•Can wait until transfer to hospital

38. Hydrocortisone (IM or slow IV)
 Adult or child more than 12 years 200 mg
 Child 6 - 12 years 100 mg
 Child 6 months to 6 years 50 mg
 Child less than 6 months 25 mg

39. Chlorphenamine(IM or slow IV)
 Adult or child more than 12 years 10 mg
 Child 6 - 12 years 5 mg
 Child 6 months to 6 years 2.5 mg
 Child less than 6 months 250 micrograms/kg

40. •Follow Basic and Advanced Life Support guidelines
•Consider reversible causes
•Give intravenous fluids
•Need for prolonged resuscitation
•Good quality CPR important

41. Ideal sample timing:
1.After initial resuscitation started and feasible
to do so
2. 1-2 hours after onset of symptoms
3. 24 hours or in convalescence or at follow up

42. •For self-use by patients or carers
•Should be prescribed by allergy specialist
•For those with severe reactions and difficult to
avoid trigger

43. •Train the patient and carers in using the device
•Practice regularly with a trainer device
•Rescuers should use these if only adrenaline available*
*see www.anaphylaxis.org.uk for videos on how to use auto-injectors

44. •Recognition and early treatment
•ABCDE approach
•Adrenaline
•Investigate
•Specialist follow up
•Education –avoid trigger
•Consider auto-injector

45. Further information on
anaphylaxis
is available at:
www.resus.org.uk
Resuscitation Council (UK)

46. 46

47. Shake and Shout
47

48. Opening the airway
 Head tilt
 Chin lift
 If cervical spine injury
suspected:
 Jaw thrust only

49. Jaw Thrust
49

50. Assess Breathing
 Look for chest movement
 Listen for breath sounds
 Feel for expired air
 Assess for 10 seconds before
deciding breathing is absent

51. Chest compressions
51

52. Middle of the chest
Depress sternum 5-6 cm
Rate: 100-120 per minute
52

53. Combine Chest compression with
rescue breaths

54. Rescue breathing
(Expired air ventilation)
After 30 compressions
 Occlude victim’s nose
 Keep mouth open
 Maintain chin lift
 Take a deep breath
 Ensure a good mouth-to-
mouth seal

55. Rescue breathing
(Expired air ventilation)
 Blow steadily (01 sec) into
victim’s mouth
 Watch for chest rise
 Maintain head tilt & chin lift,
remove mouth
 Watch chest fall
 Another rescue breath – total
2 rescue breaths

56. Watch for chest fall
56

57.  Mouth to
Tracheostomy
Ventilation
 Bag Mask
Ventilation
Needs considerable
skill & experience
57

59. Thank you