Recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis in the community

Br J Community Nurs. 2010 Sep;15(9):449-53. doi: 10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.9.78104.

Abstract

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction characterized by rapidly developing airway and/or breathing and/or circulation compromise usually associated with skin and mucosal changes. Calling 999 for an ambulance, positioning the patient appropriately and administering adrenaline intramuscularly are the key initial treatment and management options. The aim of this article is to discuss the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis in the community.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Anaphylaxis / diagnosis*
  • Anaphylaxis / epidemiology
  • Anaphylaxis / therapy*
  • Causality
  • Cause of Death
  • Child
  • Community Health Nursing / methods*
  • Decision Trees
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Emergency Treatment* / methods
  • Emergency Treatment* / nursing
  • Epinephrine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Nursing Assessment / methods*
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Epinephrine