title: Outpatient Emergencies: Anaphylaxis.
abstract: Anaphylactic fatalities are rare; however, mild reactions can rapidly progress to cardiovascular and respiratory arrest. The clinical course of anaphylaxis can be unpredictable. Prompt and early use of epinephrine should be considered. Most anaphylaxis episodes have an immunologic mechanism involving immunoglobulin E (IgE). Foods are the most common cause in children; medications and insect stings are more common in adults. When the cause is not completely avoidable or cannot be determined, a patient should be supplied with autoinjectable epinephrine and be instructed its use. They should keep the device with them at all times and taught the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Thurston Research Center, University of North Carolina, 3300 Thurston Building, CB 7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7280, USA; Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Thurston Research Center, University of North Carolina, 3300 Thurston Building, CB 7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7280, USA. Electronic address: scommins@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Scott P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Commins
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058109:Airway Management / Q000379:methods; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D004630:Emergencies; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D010045:Outpatients; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: Allergy; Anaphylaxis; IgE; Mast cell; Tryptase