Anaphylaxis

Question 1

What is Anaphylaxis?

Answer 1

When a person’s immune system reacts to triggers (allergens) that the person is hypersensitive to.
Reactions usually begin within minutes of exposure and can progress rapidly over a period of up to two hours or more

Question 2

What are Signs and symptoms of Anaphylaxis

Answer 2

→ May be beginning to itch hands, mouth or feet

→ Eyes may become red, watery and puffy

→ Tingly around the mouth

→ Swollen lips and face

→ Rash or hives can develop especially on chest, armpits and groin (hives are white itchy bumps that look like insect bites)

→Stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea

→ Shock

→ Altered mental status

→ Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and gasping

→ May become anxious and have great sense of fear

→ Respiratory or cardiac arrest and unconsciousness

→ Difficulty and or noisy breathing

→ Swelling of the tough

→ Swelling or tightness in the throat

→ Difficulty talking or hoarse voice

→ Wheeze or persistent cough

→ Loss of consciousness or collapse

→Pale and floppy (young child)

Question 3

Management of allergic reaction - mild to moderate

Answer 3

○ For insect = flick out sting if visible. If a tick bite and unsure of allergies immediately remove tick if they have known allergies to ticks then kill tick where it is rather then remove. Apply cold compression to bite.

○ Stay with casualty and contact 000

○ If prescribed give medication as noted on personal action plan of allergic reactions

○ Continue to monitor for symptoms and signs
Contact emergency contact

Question 4

Management of allergic reaction - severe reactions

Answer 4

○ Follow DRS ABCD

○ Lay them flat. If they have difficulty breathing sit the upright and try to calm them down

○ If known remove source of the allergy

○ Bring EpiPen to casualty. Use the autoinjector to inject adrenaline

○ Call 000

○ Continuously monitor airways and respiration as sudden changes may occur which may require CPR. Ensure EpiPen has been used before commencing CPR

○ Contact emergency contact

○ If available further adrenaline doses may be given if there is no response after 5 minutes
If uncertain whether it is asthma or anaphylaxis give adrenaline autoinfection first before asthma reliever