Anaphylaxis
Identify sudden airway, breathing or circulation compromise after exposure. Call for emergency help and follow the current resuscitation protocol immediately.
Understand
Anaphylaxis is a rapidly evolving systemic reaction involving airway, breathing or circulation, sometimes without skin signs. Delay in recognition is dangerous.
Assess
Stop the suspected trigger, call for emergency help and assess ABC. Look for airway swelling, wheeze, hypotension and collapse, and distinguish a simple faint where possible without delaying action.
Apply
Follow current Resuscitation Council UK and local protocol, including appropriate adrenaline and repeat assessment. Record the event and arrange emergency transfer and later allergy follow-up.
Key distinctions
Anaphylaxis is a clinical diagnosis when sudden exposure-linked airway, breathing or circulation problems occur. Skin signs can be absent, and a panic attack or faint does not explain progressive airway swelling. Emergency help, ABC assessment and prompt guideline-based adrenaline are central, followed by observation and documentation. Teams should rehearse the protocol and know where their emergency kit is kept.
Think through a case
A patient develops wheeze and hypotension soon after a medicine, with no rash. ABC findings still support anaphylaxis and urgent protocol-based action.
The distinction to remember
Do not wait for skin signs or assume every collapse after an injection is vasovagal.
Test your recall
Can skin signs be absent in anaphylaxis?
Show answer
Yes; do not delay action when ABC features fit.