Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis Facts for Parents and Carers - New Zealand

This informatuion has been updated in March 2024 and the English version is available at www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/fact-sheet-for-parents-anaphylaxis

New translated versions coming soon.

Content updated March 2024

ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis 2023 Pictorial

This pictorial poster has been developed in response to requests for a more visual version of the ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis, which can also assist people with limited reading ability. The plan is best viewed when printed as an A3 poster which can be displayed in schools, children’s education/care (CEC) services and other community settings. It includes infographics showing:

Signs of mild, moderate and severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis); and
Actions for anaphylaxis.

ASCIA First Aid Plan Anaphylaxis Pictorial A3 Poster 2023888.37 KB

An audio version of the ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (using ReadSpeaker) is available at www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/first-aid-for-anaphylaxis

ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis ORANGE 2021 Pictorial Poster

Development of this poster was supported by ASCIA and the NSW Anaphylaxis Education Program (NSWAEP), as part of the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (SCHN).

Idiopathic Anaphylaxis Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

ASCIA PCC Idiopathic Anaphylaxis 202282.57 KB

Q 1: How is idiopathic anaphylaxis different to anaphylaxis?

Idiopathic is a medical term that is used to describe a disease or condition that has no known cause.

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life threatening, severe allergic reaction that usually occurs after exposure to a known allergen, such as a food, drug (medication), or insect. Information about anaphylaxis symptoms is on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/signs-and-symptoms-of-allergic-reactions

Idiopathic anaphylaxis is a rare disorder that results in reactions that are similar to other forms of anaphylaxis, but a cause cannot be found. Reactions as a result of idiopathic anaphylaxis are triggered within the body for reasons that are not understood and are not due to any specific trigger outside the body.

Q 2: How is idiopathic anaphylaxis diagnosed?

Idiopathic anaphylaxis is diagnosed only after your doctor excludes possible causes of reactions, including allergens and diagnoses of other medical conditions that can mimic anaphylaxis.

Your doctor will usually take a detailed medical history and do a physical examination. To assist with the medical history, the ASCIA Anaphylaxis Event Record form can be used record symptoms, features of reactions and factors that can affect severity of reactions.

This form is available on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/anaphylaxis-event-record

Your doctor may sometimes do skin prick testing and allergen challenge tests, or order blood tests for specific IgE antibodies to allergens and serum tryptase.

Information about allergy testing is on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-testing

Q 3: How is idiopathic anaphylaxis treated?

A reaction due to idiopathic anaphylaxis should be treated as a medical emergency, in the same way as other forms of anaphylaxis. Adrenaline (epinephrine) injected into the muscle of the mid-outer thigh is first line treatment.

For people who have frequent reactions due to idiopathic anaphylaxis (such as six or more times per year), other treatments may be considered to help prevent reactions. If the frequency of reactions slows down, regular use of these treatments may be reduced or stopped.

Q 4: How is idiopathic anaphylaxis managed?

People who have frequent reactions as a result of idiopathic anaphylaxis need ongoing management by a doctor, which should include:

Referral to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist allergy.org.au/patients/locate-a-specialist
Adrenaline injector prescription (EpiPen^®or Anapen^®).
ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis to provide guidance on when and how to use adrenaline injectors.
Regular follow up visits to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.
Ways for you to manage stress that may be caused by not being able to know what triggers to avoid.

Further information is available at www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis and from patient support organisations, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia www.allergyfacts.org.au and Allergy New Zealand www.allergy.org.nz

© ASCIA 2022

ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand.

Content created May 2022

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life threatening, severe allergic reaction and should always be treated as a medical emergency. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is the first line treatment for anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis occurs after exposure to an allergen (usually to foods, insects or medicines), to which a person is allergic. Not all people with allergies are at risk of anaphylaxis.

ASCIA PCC Anaphylaxis 202155.41 KB

It is important to know the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are potentially life threatening and include any one of the following:

Difficult or noisy breathing
Swelling of the tongue
Swelling or tightness in throat
Difficulty talking or hoarse voice
Wheeze or persistent cough
Persistent dizziness or collapse
Pale and floppy (in young children)

In some cases, anaphylaxis is preceded by signs and symptoms of mild to moderate allergic reactions, which may include:

Swelling of face, lips and/or eyes
Hives or welts
Abdominal pain and vomiting - these are signs of anaphylaxis for insect allergy

Several factors can influence the severity of an allergic reaction, which include:

Exercise
Heat
Alcohol
Amount of food eaten and how it is prepared - in food allergic people

Identifying the cause of anaphylaxis is important

Your doctor will normally ask a series of questions that may help to narrow down the list of likely causes such as foods or medicines consumed that day, or exposure to insects. This approach will also help to exclude conditions that can sometimes be confused with anaphylaxis, such as fainting or an epileptic seizure.

If allergy is suspected, this may be followed by allergy tests, usually a blood test for allergen specific IgE (formerly known as RAST tests) or skin prick testing, to help confirm or exclude potential triggers.

It is important to note that some methods which claim to test for allergies (including cytotoxic food testing, Vega testing, kinesiology, allergy elimination techniques, iridology, pulse testing, Alcat testing, Rinkel's intradermal testing, reflexology, hair analysis and IgG food allergy testing) are not medically or scientifically proven methods to confirm allergy.

Information about allergy testing is available on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-testing

Effective management of anaphylaxis saves lives

If you are at risk of anaphylaxis, you will require ongoing management by your doctor. This should include:

Referral to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist*
Identification of the trigger/s of anaphylaxis will include a comprehensive medical history and clinical examination followed by interpretation of allergy test results.
Education on avoidance of trigger/s is particularly important with severe food allergy, as avoidance of the food is the only way to avoid an allergic reaction. Advice from an experienced allergy dietitian may also be required.
Provision of an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis** to provide guidance on when and how to use an adrenaline injector (EpiPen^® or Anapen^®).
Regular follow up visits to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

* Medical specialists providing clinical immunology and allergy services are listed on the ASCIA website. www.allergy.org.au/patients/locate-a-specialist

** ASCIA Action plans must be completed by a doctor or nurse practitioner and kept with the adrenaline injector. ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis are available from the ASCIA website. www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-plan-for-anaphylaxis

Adrenaline works rapidly to reverse the effects of anaphylaxis and is the first line treatment for anaphylaxis. Adrenaline injectors contain a single, fixed dose of adrenaline, and have been designed to be given by non-medical people, such as a friend, teacher, childcare worker, parent, passer-by or by the patient themselves (if they are not too unwell to do this).

An adrenaline injector should only be prescribed as part of a comprehensive anaphylaxis management plan, which includes an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis and education on how to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

If you or your child has been prescribed an adrenaline injector, it is important that you learn and practice how to use it, by using a trainer device every three to four months.

Further Information

ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis

The following patient organisations provide useful and supportive information:

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia www.allergyfacts.org.au
Allergy New Zealand www.allergy.org.nz

© ASCIA 2021

ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand.

ASCIA resources are based on published literature and expert review, however, they are not intended to replace medical advice. The content of ASCIA resources is not influenced by any commercial organisations.

For more information go to www.allergy.org.au

To donate to allergy and immunology research go to www.allergyimmunology.org.au/donate

Content updated August 2021

Anaphylaxis translations

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life threatening, severe allergic reaction and should always be treated as a medical emergency. Anaphylaxis occurs after exposure to an allergen (usually to foods, insects or medicines), to which a person is allergic. Not all people with allergies are at risk of anaphylaxis.