Anaphylaxis First Aid Treatment

Hint

 Shortness of breath.
 Wheezing when exhaling, remember not all asthma sufferers wheeze.
 Dry or moist persistent cough, particularly at night, early morning and with exercise.
 Tightness of the chest.
 Inability to speak more than one or two words per breath.

Hint

• Severe cough.
• Moderate wheezing, and it occurs at rest.
• Difficulty breathing, only able to speak short sentences.
• Chest tightness.
• Inability to sleep.

Hint

• Gasping for breath.
• Severe wheezing.
• Severe difficulty breathing, only able to speak one or two words per breath.
• Severe chest pain/tightness when taking a breath or coughing.
• Pale, sweaty skin.
• Increasing pulse rate.

Hint

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that involves the entire body. Anaphylaxis may result in shock or death, and therefore requires immediate medical attention. This most severe type of allergic reaction often involves many organs of the body such as:

The skin – welts and hives (urticaria).

The upper airways – swelling of the throat and vocal cords leading to obstruction in breathing.

Hint

ASCIA Action Plans do not expire, and therefore the plan is still valid beyond the review date, which is a guide for patients to see their doctor. Ideally, ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when patients are reassessed by their doctor or nurse practitioner, and each time they obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector prescription, which is approximately every 12 to 18 months.

Hint

Pollens: from trees, grasses, weeds etc.

Dust: Dust mites, and wood/grain

Moulds

Pet/animal dander (skin flakes in an animal’s fur or hair); pet urine, saliva, faeces

Certain drugs/medications; asprin and some blood pressure control medication

Cigarette smoke; is directly harmful the airways and makes asthma worse, so exposure to cigarette smoke            should be avoided by anyone who has asthma.

Hint

Foods (especially nuts, seafood, eggs, cow’s milk, soy, wheat).

Drugs (antibiotics, x-ray contrast dyes).

Venom of stinging insects (bees, wasps, ants).

Herbal remedies (Royal Jelly).

Latex.

Hint

Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that involves the entire body. Anaphylaxis may result in shock or death, and therefore requires immediate medical attention. This most severe type of allergic reaction often involves many organs of the body such as:

The skin – welts and hives (urticaria).

The upper airways – swelling of the throat and vocal cords leading to obstruction in breathing.

The nose – sneezing, blocking, watering, runny nose.

The lung – wheezing and asthma.

The circulatory system – a fall in blood pressure and collapse.

Some triggers include:

Foods (especially nuts, seafood, eggs, cow’s milk, soy, wheat).

Drugs (antibiotics, x-ray contrast dyes).

Venom of stinging insects (bees, wasps, ants).

Herbal remedies (Royal Jelly).

Latex.

In some cases, anaphylaxis is preceded by signs of a mild to moderate allergic reaction. 

For insect allergies, these can be signs of anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis may include:

Abdominal cramping or pain

Diarrhea

Nausea and/or vomiting

Pain or tightness in the chest

Difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice

Difficulty swallowing

Difficulty and/or noisy breathing

Wheeze or persistent cough

Fear or anxiety

Heart palpitations

Flushing of the face

Swelling of the face, eyes, or tongue

Dizziness or vertigo

Weakness

Loss of unconsciousness

Pale and floppy (young children)

Follow the DRSABCD emergency action plan.

For insect allergy, flick out the sting if it can be seen (but do not remove ticks).

Stay with the casualty and reassure.

Give medications if prescribed (whilst antihistamines may be used to treat mild to moderate allergic reactions, if the reaction progresses to anaphylaxis then adrenaline is the only suitable medication).

Locate adrenaline auto-injector if available (instructions are included in the Action Plan for Anaphylaxis which should be stored with the adrenaline auto-injector: EpiPen/AnaPen).

Contact parent/guardian or other emergency contact.

Give the adrenaline auto-injector if available (instructions are included in the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis, stored with the adrenaline auto-injector)

Follow the DRSABCD emergency action plan.

Lay person flat and elevate legs – if breathing is difficult, allow them to sit but do not stand.

Further adrenaline doses may be given (when an additional adrenaline auto-injector is available), if there is no response after five minutes.

If in doubt, give the adrenaline auto-injector.

Adrenaline is life saving and must be used promptly. Withholding or delaying the giving of adrenaline can result in deterioration and death. This is why giving the adrenaline auto-injector is the first instruction on the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis. If cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is given before this step there is a risk that adrenaline is delayed or not given.

In the ambulance, oxygen will usually be administered to the casualty by ambulance personnel.

Medical observation of the casualty in hospital for at least four hours is recommended after the use of adrenaline and treatment of anaphylaxis.

Adrenaline auto-injectors available in Australia and New Zealand are EpiPen and AnaPen. The Junior versions of EpiPen and AnaPen are generally prescribed for children aged one to five years.

If the allergic reaction is due to either a bee, wasp or ant sting and there is no EpiPen/AnaPen available use the Pressure Immobilisation (Bandaging) Technique for snakebite treatment.

For further information on anaphylaxis visit:

Australasian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (ASCIA)

http://www.allergy.org.au

Hint

Pain or tightness in the chest
Difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty and/or noisy breathing
Wheeze or persistent cough
Swelling of the face, eyes, or tongue
Loss of unconsciousness
Pale and floppy (young children)

Hint

Asthma is a medical condition that causes narrowing of the small airways in the lungs. Typically, asthma sufferers develop wheezing and have increased mucus production in their lungs. Asthma sufferers often have the disease for many years. The episodes of shortness of breath may be life threatening and often triggered by allergic reactions.

Hint

 Follow the DRSABCD emergency action plan

 Sit in a comfortable upright position.

 Be calm and reassure the casualty.

 Call 000 for an ambulance.

 Continuously repeat reliever medication every four minutes until the ambulance arrives.