New action plans for severe allergic reactions
25 July 2003
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) is moving to raise the profile of first-aid adrenaline (available in Australia in pharmacies (must be dispensed by the pharmacist) as a self-administration device called EpiPen or EpiPen Jr) by issuing template written 'action plans' for adult and child anaphylaxis.
(Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of the tongue, swelling or tightness in the throat, rash, and loss of consciousness. It is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency treatment.)
'Early use of adrenaline is important in terms of preventing mortality (death), which is rare, and morbidity (illness), which is common,' said Dr Mike Gold, head of paediatric allergy and immunology at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital.
'Australian prevalence surveys show that 1 in 166 school-age children will have had an episode of anaphylaxis.
'For a child who is food allergic, they can expect a recurrent episode every 2 years.'
However, parents who bought EpiPen for their children were often reluctant to use it, said Dr Gold, chair of an ASCIA working party developing new adrenaline prescribing guidelines.
'We've done ... surveys which show that ... EpiPen is used in only one out of 3 episodes of anaphylaxis,' Dr Gold said.
The anaphylaxis action plans, available for download from www.allergy.org.au, are designed for GPs, patients and schools.
They include a step-by-step diagram illustrating how to administer an EpiPen injection.
The plans aim to standardise anaphylaxis response in Australia, and they would be particularly useful for schools, which could have 10 allergy-prone children on their books, 'all with different action plans', Dr Gold said.
Last Reviewed: 25 July 2003
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 25/7/03
