Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis

Announcements: The interactive Clinical Pathways have launched and they are available for free! — In this episode, Sam Ashoo, MD, and TR Eckler, MD, discuss the July 2022 Emergency Medicine Practice article on the Management of Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis in the Emergency Department.  IntroThe number of ED visits and hospitalizationsStudies show up to 57% of anaphylactic reactions are not recognized, and epinephrine is not administered in up to 80% of cases. Criteria2006 Second National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (NIAID/FAAN)WAO revised the criteria in 2020 Delphi group and Brown et alPathophysiology EpidemiologyMost common causes in children and adultsMore than half of deaths from anaphylaxis occur within the first hour of symptom onsetPrehospital CareGive epi, H1 blockersMainstay = recognitionED CareAirwayEpinephrineDecontaminationH1 and H2 blockersCorticosteroidsBiphasic reactionsGlucagonSpecial CasesAlpha-galScombroidKounis syndrome