About Anaphylaxis

• Triggers
• Risk factors
• Mechanisms
• Epidemiology
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• When to refer

Further information:

Prescribing Information

Patient Information Leaflet

When to refer

According to the recent draft NICE guidelines, each local health care community should have a referral pathway for people who have received emergency treatment for suspected anaphylaxis. NICE recommend that everyone who has had an initial anaphylactic episode should be referred to a specialist allergy service at the earliest possible opportunity after the reaction.²²

No subgroups of people were identified who should not be referred, because of the risk of missing people who are potentially at high risk of recurrence. This strategy will help to prevent the recurrence of anaphylaxis.

NICE also recommend that patients should be prescribed an auto-injector while awaiting their appointment and that before discharge a healthcare professional with the appropriate skills and competencies should offer people (or, as appropriate, their parent and/or carer) information about anaphylaxis, including:

• signs and symptoms
• information about the risk of a biphasic reaction
• what to do if an anaphylactic episode occurs
• a demonstration of the correct use of the adrenaline auto-injector and when to use it
• how to avoid the suspected trigger (if known)
• information about the need for referral to a specialist allergy service and the referral process
• Information about patient support groups.

See the Supporting patients section for how MEDA can help you do this.