First Aid for Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction and is potentially life threatening. It normally occurs after someone with a severe allergy is exposed to the substance they are allergic to (normally a food, insect sting or medicine). Always treat anaphylaxis as a medical emergency, requiring immediate treatment.
Anaphylaxis may be preceded by less severe symptoms of an allergic reaction:
| Mild-moderate symptoms | Severe symptoms (Anaphylaxis) |
| Swelling of face, lips and eyes | Swelling of tongue and/or throat |
| Skin rash (hives, welts, urticaria) | Difficulty in swallowing or speaking |
| Tingling mouth | Vocal changes (hoarse voice) |
| Runny / itchy nose, sneezing | Wheeze or persistent cough |
| Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting | Difficult or noisy breathing |
| Dizziness / collapse / loss of consciousness |
Step 1
- Stay with the person and call for help
- If any severe symptoms are present, proceed immediately to STEP 3
- Give any medicines for mild reactions that the person has been prescribed e.g. anti-histamine
- If the person has been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector device, find this and read the instructions
- For a child, contact the parent/guardian
Step 2
- Continue to watch for any one of the following signs of anaphylaxis:
| Symptoms of Anaphylaxis |
| Swelling of tongue |
| Difficulty in swallowing or speaking |
| Vocal changes (hoarse voice) |
| Wheeze or persistent cough |
| Difficult or noisy breathing |
| Dizziness / collapse / loss of consciousness |
- If any one of these symptoms is present, proceed immediately to STEP 3
Step 3
- Lay person flat (if breathing is difficult, allow them to sit but do not let them stand or walk)
- Use the adrenaline auto-injector device, if available
- Call an ambulance (999) – use a mobile phone if available
- For a child, contact the parent/guardian
- Further adrenaline doses may be given (if a second auto-injector device is available) where there is no response after 5 minutes
IF IN DOUBT, GIVE THE ADRENALINE AUTO-INJECTOR
Notes:
- In the event of anaphylaxis, do not delay giving adrenaline if available. Adrenaline is the first treatment of anaphylaxis, even before oxygen and other resuscitation steps.
- There is no legal problem in any person administering adrenaline for treatment of a possible anaphylactic reaction. The first aider must be competent in being able to recognise the symptoms of anaphylaxis and administering adrenaline using an auto-injector.
- Current recommendations from the UK Resuscitation Council are for patients to be observed in hospital for at least 6 hours after anaphylaxis.
Last updated: March 2012