Anaphylaxis: Review Open Access
Anaphylaxis: Review Open Access
Anaphylaxis: Review Open Access
Anaphylaxis
Harold Kim1,2*, David Fischer3
Abstract
Anaphylaxis is an acute, potentially fatal systemic reaction with varied mechanisms and clinical presentations.
Although prompt recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis are imperative, both patients and healthcare
professionals often fail to recognize and diagnose early signs and symptoms of the condition. Clinical
manifestations vary widely, however, the most common signs are cutaneous symptoms, including angioedema,
urticaria, erythema and pruritus. Immediate intramuscular administration of epinephrine into the lateral thigh is
first-line therapy, even if the diagnosis is uncertain. The mainstays of long-term management include specialist
assessment, avoidance measures, and the provision of an epinephrine auto-injector and an individualized
anaphylaxis action plan. This article provides an overview of the causes, clinical features, diagnosis and acute and
long-term management of this serious allergic reaction.
© 2011 Kim and Fischer; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Kim and Fischer Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2011, 7(Suppl 1):S6 Page 2 of 7
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Table 1 Causes of anaphylaxis antigen, but may occasionally occur as late as 1 hour
Common: post exposure. Symptoms usually follow a uniphasic
• Foods: most commonly peanuts, tree nuts, egg, seafood and fish, course, with resolution of symptoms within hours of
cow’s milk, wheat
• Medications: most commonly antibiotics
treatment. However, up to 20% of reactions follow a
• Insect stings (bees and wasps) biphasic course characterized by an asymptomatic per-
• Natural rubber latex iod of 1-8 hours followed by recurrent symptoms [13].
• Unidentified (no cause found; idiopathic anaphylaxis)
Less common:
• Exercise Diagnosis
• Semen The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is based primarily on
• Food additives: monosodium glutamate, metabisulfite
• Hormonal changes: menstrual factors clinical signs and symptoms, as well as a detailed
• Topical medications description of the acute episode, including antecedent
• Transfusions activities and events. Diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis
were published by a multidisciplinary group of experts
in 2005 and 2006, and are shown in Table 3[1,2]. A
gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and cardiovascular diagnosis of anaphylaxis is highly likely when any one
system can be observed (see Table 2). The most common of the criteria listed in Table 3 is fulfilled. Since the
clinical manifestations are cutaneous symptoms, including evaluation and diagnosis of anaphylaxis is often com-
urticaria and angioedema, erythema (flushing), and pruri- plex, referral to an allergist with training and expertise
tus (itching) [11]. Patients also often describe an impend- in the identification and management of anaphylaxis
ing sense of death (angor animi). Death due to should be considered.
anaphylaxis usually occurs as a result of respiratory
obstruction or cardiovascular collapse, or both. Evidence History
suggests that there is a direct correlation between the The history is the most important tool to establish the
immediacy of symptom onset and the severity of the epi- cause of anaphylaxis and should take precedence over
sode, with the more rapid the onset, the more severe the diagnostic tests. It should elicit information about clini-
event [12]. It is important to note that the signs and symp- cal manifestations (e.g., urticaria, angioedema, flushing,
toms of anaphylaxis are unpredictable and may vary from pruritus, airway obstruction, gastrointestinal symptoms,
patient to patient and from one reaction to another. syncope, and hypotension); agents encountered before
Therefore, the absence of one or more of the common the reaction, such as foods, medications or insect bites/
symptoms listed in Table 2 does not rule out anaphylaxis, stings, as well as the patient’s activities preceding the
and should not delay immediate treatment. event (e.g., exercise, sexual activity). The absence of
The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis typically cutaneous symptoms puts the diagnosis in question
develop within minutes after exposure to the offending since the majority of anaphylactic episodes include
Respiratory: Neurologic:
• Upper airway: • Light-headedness
– Nasal congestion • Dizziness
– Sneezing • Confusion
– Hoarseness
– Cough
– Oropharyngeal or laryngeal edema
• Lower airway: dyspnea Oral:
– Bronchospasms • Itching
– Wheezing • Tingling or swelling of the lips, tongue or palate
– Chest tightness
Cardiovascular: Other:
• Hypotension • Sense of impending doom
• Dizziness • Anxiety
• Syncope
• Tachycardia
Kim and Fischer Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2011, 7(Suppl 1):S6 Page 3 of 7
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cutaneous symptoms; however, their absence does not dysfunction, acute poisoning; hypoglycemia; and seizure
rule out anaphylaxis [4]. disorders [4,14].
Anaphylaxis?
Intramuscular epinephrine
x 0.01 mg/kg up to a maximum of 0.5 mg
x Repeat every 5–20 min if needed
IV epinephrine*
Figure 1 Simplified algorithm for the acute management of anaphylaxis. IV: intravenous *Should be given by a physician trained in the use
of IV epinephrine with capacity for continuous blood pressure and cardiac monitoring
Patients with anaphylaxis to medications should be Induction of drug tolerance procedures temporarily
informed about all cross-reacting medications that modify a patient’s immunologic or non-immunologic
should be avoided. Should there be a future essential response to a drug through the administration of
indication for use of the medication causing anaphy- incremental doses of the drug. However, drug toler-
lactic reactions, it may be helpful to educate patients ance is usually maintained only as long as the drug is
about possible management options, such as medica- administered; therefore, the procedure needs to be
tion pretreatment and use of low osmolarity agents in repeated in the future if the patient requires the drug
patients with a history of reactions to radiographic again after finishing a prior therapeutic course (for
contrast media, or induction of drug tolerance proce- more information, see article on Drug Allergy in this
dures (also known as drug desensitization) [4]. supplement).
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Patients who have had an anaphylactic reaction to an and emergency protocols [6]. Important information that
insect sting should be advised about avoidance measures should be included in this plan is shown in Table 4[6,18].
to reduce the risk of future stings. Such measures Examples of such a plan, along with other relevant infor-
include: being alert when eating outdoors (as wasps are mation and materials, can be downloaded at Anaphylaxis
attracted to food), wearing shoes and long pants when Canada (http://www.anaphylaxis.ca) or the Food Allergy
in fields, and having nests or hives near the patient’s and Anaphylaxis Network (http://www.foodallergy.org; a
home removed [14]. Patients who have previously US-based association). Action plans should be reviewed
experienced venom-induced anaphylaxis are often candi- annually and updated if necessary. A copy of the plan
dates for venom immunotherapy, which is successful in should be made available to all relevant persons, such as
preventing anaphylaxis in up to 98% of patients (see day-care providers, teachers, and employers. Recommen-
article on Allergen Immunotherapy in this supplement). dations for the management of anaphylaxis in schools and
Subjects at high risk of a reaction to latex include: other community settings [15] are available through the
healthcare workers, children with spina bifida and geni- Allergy Safe Communities website at http://www.allergysa-
tourinary abnormalities; and workers with occupational fecommunities.ca.
exposure to latex. Patients with spina bifida (regardless
of a history of latex allergy) and patients with a positive Conclusions
history of latex allergy should have all medical-surgical- Anaphylaxis is an acute, potentially fatal systemic reac-
dental procedures performed in a latex-safe environ- tion with varied mechanisms and clinical presentations.
ment. This is an environment in which no natural rub- Prompt recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis are
ber latex gloves are used in the room or surgical suite imperative; however, both patients and healthcare pro-
and in which there are limited latex-based accessories fessionals often fail to recognize and diagnose anaphy-
(catheters, adhesives, tourniquets, anesthesia equipment laxis in its early stages. Diagnostic criteria which take
or devices) which come in contact with the patient [4]. into account the variable clinical manifestations of ana-
Patients should also obtain and wear medical identifica- phylaxis are now available and can assist healthcare pro-
tion (such as a MedicAlert bracelet/necklace) that indi- viders in the early recognition of the condition.
cates that they have experienced anaphylaxis as well as the Immediate intramuscular administration of epinephrine
responsible agent. Patients should also be instructed to into the lateral thigh is first-line therapy for anaphylaxis.
avoid drugs that might increase their susceptibility and/or Acute management may also involve oxygen therapy,
complicate the management of an anaphylactic event, intravenous fluids, and adjunctive therapies such as anti-
such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs [4]. histamines or inhaled beta2-agonists. The mainstays of
long-term management include specialist assessment, a
Anaphylaxis action plan prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector, patient
A comprehensive, individualized anaphylaxis action plan and caregiver education on avoidance measures, and the
should be prepared which defines roles and responsibilities provision of an individualized anaphylaxis action plan.
Key take-home messages definition and management of anaphylaxis: summary report – Second
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and
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1
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Competing interests Vautrin A, Niggemann B, Rancé F, EAACI Task Force on Anaphylaxis in
Dr. Harold Kim is the past president of the Canadian Network for Respiratory Children: The management of anaphylaxis in childhood: position paper
Care and co-chief editor of Allergy, Asthma &Clinical Immunology. He has of the European academy of allergology and clinical immunology. Allergy
received consulting fees and honoraria for continuing education from 2007, 62:857-71.
AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Graceway Pharmaceuticals, King Pharma,
Merck Frosst, Novartis, and Nycomed. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-7-S1-S6
Dr. David Fischer is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Cite this article as: Kim and Fischer: Anaphylaxis. Allergy, Asthma &
Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. He has received consulting fees Clinical Immunology 2011 7(Suppl 1):S6.
and honoraria for continuing education from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline,
Graceway Pharmaceuticals, King Pharma, Merck Frosst, Novartis, Paladin Labs
and Nycomed.