Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen, even in trace amounts, like eggs or peanuts. However, recent studies show that many people with allergies, and those who care for them, often lack the knowledge to act quickly and effectively when anaphylaxis strikes. Two new studies, presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) annual meeting in Boston, highlighted the widespread confusion surrounding the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis.
One study focused on patients’ awareness of anaphylactic symptoms and how to respond, while the other examined the inconsistencies in emergency medical services (EMS) protocols across different US states. The first study, led by Dr Sasha Alvarado, co-director of quality and safety for the Division of Immunology, Allergy, and Retrovirology at Baylor College of Medicine, surveyed 96 allergy patients and caregivers. Alvarado’s team found that while most respondents (73 per cent) felt “comfortable” identifying anaphylaxis symptoms, only 14 per cent would likely use epinephrine as a first-line treatment if an allergic reaction occurred.
Epinephrine, the active ingredient in EpiPen, is the recommended rescue medication for anaphylaxis, but various factors contributed to patients’ reluctance to use it. According to the survey, reasons for hesitation included uncertainty about which symptoms warranted treatment (41 per ce.