Anaphylaxis

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a very serious allergic reaction that happens quickly. It can be life-threatening and needs urgent medical help. Your body reacts strongly to something you're allergic to - like certain foods, medicines, or insect stings.

What are the warning signs?

The symptoms happen very fast - usually within minutes. Look out for:

Breathing problems:

• Finding it very hard to breathe or breathing very fast
• Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing
• Feeling like you're choking or gasping for air
• Tight feeling in your throat

Swelling:

• Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell up
• Hard to swallow

Skin changes:

• Your skin, lips or tongue turn blue, grey or pale
• If you have brown or black skin, check your palms or soles of your feet
• Raised, itchy rash that looks swollen

Feeling unwell:

• Very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• Feeling faint or fainting
• Feeling very tired
• Skin feels cold

🚨 RED FLAG: Call 999 immediately if you see any of these symptoms. This is a medical emergency.

What should you do?

If you think someone is having this serious allergic reaction:

1. Use an adrenaline auto-injector (like an EpiPen) if they have one
2. Call 999 straight away - tell them you think it's anaphylaxis
3. Help them lie down - they can lift their legs up. If they're struggling to breathe, help them sit up slowly
4. Don't let them stand or walk - even if they feel better
5. If symptoms don't improve after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector if available

What causes it?

Common triggers include:

• Foods - nuts, milk, eggs, fish, sesame seeds
• Medicines - antibiotics, some painkillers
• Insect stings - wasps, bees
• Other things - latex rubber, anaesthetics used in operations

Sometimes doctors can't find what caused the reaction.

How can you prevent it?

If you know you have severe allergies:

• Avoid your triggers - check food labels carefully, tell restaurant staff about your allergy
• Carry two adrenaline auto-injectors at all times
• Check expiry dates regularly and get new ones before they run out
• Teach family and friends how to use your auto-injector
• Wear medical alert jewellery so people know about your allergy
• Don't wait - use your auto-injector if you think you might be having a reaction, even if symptoms seem mild

What happens in hospital?

You'll get treatment straight away, which might include:

• Adrenaline through a drip
• Oxygen to help you breathe
• Fluids through a drip

You'll usually stay in hospital for 2-12 hours to make sure you're safe. Before you go home, you should get two adrenaline auto-injectors and be shown how to use them.

When to speak to your GP

Speak to your GP if you've had a serious allergic reaction or if you're worried about allergies. They might refer you to an allergy specialist for tests to find out exactly what triggers your reactions.

Remember - anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Don't wait to see if symptoms get better. Call 999 immediately.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.