Recognising and Treating Acute Anaphylaxis
Published: 08 February 2021
Published: 08 February 2021
Over four million Australians (one in five) are affected by allergic disease. Allergic diseases include anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema and others (Parliament of Australia 2020).
Anaphylaxis is the most severe type of allergic reaction. It is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that requires urgent treatment (Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia 2020).
Between 1997 and 2013, there have been 324 deaths related to anaphylaxis in Australia. Deaths caused by anaphylaxis are often preventable. Over the past five years, hospital admissions for anaphylaxis have increased by 46% (ACSQHC 2020).
Anaphylaxis is a severe generalised allergic reaction. Symptoms generally occur within 20 minutes to 2 hours after exposure to the allergen and may quickly escalate, with the potential to become life-threatening (Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia 2020).
Note that not every person with an allergy will experience anaphylaxis (ASCIA 2019a).
The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) (2020a) defines anaphylaxis as:
The following symptoms suggest a mild to moderate allergic reaction. Note that these symptoms may precede anaphylaxis.
(ASCIA 2020a; ACSQHC 2020)
Anaphylaxis includes one or more of the following potentially life-threatening symptoms:
Airway |
|
Breathing |
|
Circulation |
|
Gastrointestinal |
|
(ASCIA 2019; ACSQHC 2020)
Note that in up to 20% of anaphylactic reactions, skin and mucosal changes are minor or completely absent (ACSQHC 2019).
The severity of an anaphylactic reaction may be influenced by:
(ASCIA 2019a)
Anaphylaxis is most likely to be triggered by foods, medicines or insect stings (ASCIA 2020a).
The onset of symptoms may depend on the allergen triggering the reaction:
(ASCIA 2020a)
About 10% of infants, 4 to 8% of children and 2% of adults experience food allergies. Although any food can cause an allergic reaction, 90% of reactions are triggered by:
(ASCIA 2019c)
Medicine-related anaphylaxis is most commonly caused by:
(Nickson 2020)
Insect sting-related anaphylaxis is most commonly caused by honeybees, wasps or ants (Nickson 2020).
In more than 50% of cases, the trigger for anaphylaxis can not be identified (Nickson 2020).
Less common causes of anaphylaxis include:
(Nickson 2020)
Those most likely to be allergic to latex are people who are frequently exposed to it, such as healthcare workers (ASCIA 2019b).
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) are antibodies produced by the immune system. The plasma cell produces IgE-antibodies that bind to a specific allergen via the Fragment antigen-binding region. If you have an allergy, your immune system overreacts to an allergen by producing IgE (ASCIA 2020b).
Diagnosis involves testing for raised antibodies in response to a particular allergen that is given. This can be performed through tests such as:
(ASCIA 2020b)
One of the difficulties with recognising an anaphylactic reaction is that there are many differential diagnoses. Some of these include:
(Nickson 2020)
For the most up-to-date guidelines for immediate treatment and management of anaphylactic reactions, refer to ASCIA’s Guidelines - Acute Management of Anaphylaxis.
Adrenaline (epinephrine) is the first-line treatment of anaphylaxis. It is the only effective treatment and reduces hospitalisation and death (ACSQHC 2020). It works by:
(ASCIA 2020a)
Adrenaline also has a relatively short half-life (plasma half-life of approximately two to three minutes). Some patients may experience adverse effects such as transient pallor, palpitations or headache after administration (EMC 2020).
The patient should not be allowed to stand or walk until they are haemodynamically stable.
(ASCIA 2020a)
The patient should be closely monitored (which means to increase the frequency of observations) for at least 4 hours following their last dose of adrenaline, as there is potential for relapse. Increase the frequency of overnight observations or consider critical care if the patient is haemodynamically unstable. Overnight observation is recommended if the patient:
(ASCIA 2020a)
Any person with anaphylaxis should have an anaphylaxis management plan. Training and education, as well as an emergency kit containing medication such as adrenaline, should be provided to the patient and their family (ACSQHC 2020).
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is currently in the process of finalising a new Acute Anaphylaxis Clinical Care Standard. This standard aims to reduce differences in care received by people who experience an anaphylactic reaction (ACSQHC 2019).
According to the draft document released in 2020, the standard comprises the following eight Quality Statements:
Quality Statement 1: Prompt recognition of anaphylaxis | Patients displaying the symptoms of anaphylaxis are assessed rapidly, especially if they have a history of allergy or have been exposed to an allergic trigger. |
Quality Statement 2: Immediate injection of intramuscular adrenaline | Adrenaline is administered without delay if a patient is having an anaphylactic reaction or suspected anaphylactic reaction. Adrenaline is administered before any other treatment, including asthma medicine, corticosteroids and antihistamines. |
Quality Statement 3: Correct patient positioning | Patients experiencing an anaphylactic reaction are laid flat. If they are having difficulty breathing, they can sit with their legs extended. Patients are not permitted to stand or walk until they have been assessed as safe to do so. |
Quality Statement 4: Access to a personal adrenaline injector in all healthcare settings | Patients have access to their own adrenaline injectors at all times when receiving care and can self-medicate if required. |
Quality Statement 5: Observation time following anaphylaxis | Patients who have experienced an anaphylactic reaction are monitored for at least four hours following their last dose of adrenaline, in a healthcare facility. In accordance with ASCIA’s Acute Management of Anaphylaxis Guidelines, overnight observation may be required. |
Quality Statement 6: Discharge management | Prior to discharge from a healthcare facility, patients receive:
|
(ACSQHC 2020a)
Note: This information is subject to change when the final version of the standard is released.
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Sally Moyle is a rehabilitation nurse educator who has completed her masters of nursing (clinical nursing and teaching). She is passionate about education in nursing so that we can become the best nurses possible. Sally has experience in many nursing sectors including rehabilitation, medical, orthopaedic, neurosurgical, day surgery, emergency, aged care, and general surgery. See Educator Profile
Ausmed’s Editorial team is committed to providing high-quality and thoroughly researched content to our readers, free of any commercial bias or conflict of interest. All articles are developed in consultation with healthcare professionals and peer reviewed where necessary, undergoing a yearly review to ensure all healthcare information is kept up to date. See Educator Profile