Emergency Management: Anaphylaxis

The National Allergy Strategy is partnering with Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia to deliver a series of webinars to help parents and guardians manage food allergies and the risk of anaphylaxis in children’s education and care services, primary and secondary schools and camps.

The second in the series is "Emergency Management: Anaphylaxis".

When: Wed April 27 2022
Where: Zoom

• Emergency Management: Anaphylaxis - Full webinar
  Questions

• Dr Katie Frith - ASCIA Action Plans and Recognising Anaphylaxis
• Maria Said - Adrenaline Injectors
• Our GP told us we were getting an EpiPen, but the pharmacist gave us an Anapen. Are pharmacies allowed to substitute the brands?
• If a second adrenaline injector is needed, should it be given in a different leg?
• If you administer an antihistamine for a food allergic reaction based on initial symptoms of a mild reaction, can this mask warning signs and symptoms for a severe reaction? If the initial reaction is hives, how long after can an anaphylaxis reaction occur? And if hives subside with antihistamines, does this mean an anaphylaxis will not occur? Also, will giving an antihistamine stop a reaction progressing to anaphylaxis?
• What is the minimum standards of care that should be expected from paramedics or ambulance staff? When arriving in ED following an anaphylaxis, should there be access to a cardiac monitor and how long someone should be observed for?
• Why do insect bite anaphylaxis cause stomach pains? Can anything help abdominal pain following a mild reaction? Sometimes my child can have stomach pain for hours after reaction.
• Are any other brands of adrenaline injectors coming onto the market in Australia? Does the Anapen come with a hard case like the EpiPen does?
• Managing anaphylaxis in babies under 7.5 kilos. We know that typically adrenaline injectors are only prescribed to babies over 7.5 kilos. So what do you do if you've got a baby having an anaphylaxis and they haven't been prescribed an adrenaline injector?"
• Should you remove clothing before administrating an adrenaline injector? And is there any difference in that for EpiPen or Anapen in your answer?

Content updated May 2022