title: Strategies for living with the risk of anaphylaxis in  adolescence: qualitative study of young people and their  parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescents with anaphylaxis are at increased risk of fatal outcomes. Gaps in their knowledge of day-to-day and  emergency management have been identified. There are also gaps in services available to support adolescents at risk of anaphylaxis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences and healthcare needs of adolescents living with the risk of anaphylaxis; to understand the perspectives  of their parents; and to look at how care might be improved.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was undertaken using in-depth interviews with adolescents with a recent history of severe allergic reactions  and with their parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six adolescents at risk of anaphylaxis living in Scotland and their parents (n=28) were recruited. Most anaphylactic reactions  reported by participants appeared to result from accidents, misinformation, or inexperience. For many, management involved finding a balance  between taking their allergies seriously whilst not allowing these concerns to dominate their lives. Risks were often difficult to judge, with  reactions sometimes taking place even after careful checking of meal ingredients. Most admitted taking some risks with trace-labelled foods.  Appropriate healthcare support for adolescents in learning to manage the risk of anaphylaxis independently and advice and support for their  parents was inconsistently provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents tend to see their risk management strategies as 'good enough', but these strategies were often inconsistent with  clinical best practice and, in some cases, had not prevented reactions. Building on adolescents' existing skills and knowledge and the use of  Internet and associated social media resources may help to support more effective self-management among adolescents.
authors.affiliation: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cunningham-Burley
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheikh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D055815:Young Adult