CURRENT
OPINION Anaphylaxis in children
Karen S. Farbman and Kenneth A. Michelson
Purpose of review
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening. We will review the most recent
evidence regarding the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and prevention of anaphylaxis in children.
Recent findings
Histamine and tryptase are not sufficiently accurate for the routine diagnosis of anaphylaxis, so providers
should continue to rely on clinical signs. Platelet-activating factor shows some promise in the diagnosis of
anaphylaxis. Intramuscular is the best route for epinephrine administration for children of all weights.
Glucocorticoids may reduce prolonged hospitalizations for anaphylaxis. Children with anaphylaxis who have
resolving symptoms and no history of asthma or previous biphasic reactions may be observed for as few as
3–4 h before emergency department discharge. Early peanut introduction reduces the risk of peanut allergy.
Summary
Epinephrine remains the mainstay of anaphylaxis treatment, and adjuvant medications should not be used
in its place. All patients with anaphylaxis should be prescribed and trained to use an epinephrine
autoinjector. Clinically important biphasic reactions are rare. Observation in the emergency department for
most anaphylaxis patients is recommended, with the duration determined by risk factors. Admission is
reserved for patients with unimproved or worsening symptoms, or prior biphasic reaction.
Keywords
allergic reaction, allergy, anaphylaxis, pediatric emergency medicine
INTRODUCTION
Anaphylaxis is a serious, rapid-onset allergic reac- The NIAID definition serves to alert the provider
tion that in rare cases causes death [1]. Recent to the various presentations that anaphylaxis
evidence demonstrates that pediatric emergency may have, and directs the provider to keep a high
department (ED) visits for children with anaphy- level of suspicion for anaphylaxis and the need
laxis increased from 5.7 to 11.7 per 10 000 visits for timely treatment.
from 2009 to 2013, and that the overall burden of We will highlight recent advances in the general
childhood allergic disease is increasing [2,3]. This care of patients with anaphylaxis. We will review
highlights the need for providers and the lay public updates on diagnostic testing, treatment with
to have a heightened awareness for a diagnosis epinephrine and adjuvant medications, stronger
that has been underrecognized and undertreated. evidence on the true risk of biphasic reactions,
In 2010, the National Institute of Allergy, Immu- and the nuanced approach to the length of ED
nology, and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) published observation prior to discharge. The review of fluid
its comprehensive guideline for managing food resuscitation and airway support for anaphylactic
allergy [4]. The presence of any one of the following shock are beyond the scope of this article.
indicates that anaphylaxis is likely:
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Emergency and critical care medicine
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Anaphylaxis in children Farbman and Michelson
Table 1. Candidate framework for determining the period of monitoring for children with anaphylaxis
Severity of
presentation Symptoms, signs, and risk factors Monitoring period Discharge criteria
High Any of the following: Hospitalization for 24 or more hours Resolution of symptoms
Previous protracted or biphasic Epinephrine teaching completed
anaphylaxis Epinephrine autoinjector prescribed
Able to access medical care
Two or more doses of epinephrine
administered
Moderate-to-severe wheezing on
presentation
Hypotension
Pharyngeal edema
Persistence of symptoms without
improvement
Worsening of symptoms
Medium Any of the following: 6–8 h from epinephrine dose Resolution of symptoms
History of asthma Epinephrine teaching completed
Mild wheezing on presentation Epinephrine autoinjector prescribed
Slowly resolving symptoms Able to access medical care
Low All of the following: 3–4 h from epinephrine dose Resolution of symptoms
Asymptomatic shortly after Epinephrine teaching completed
administration of epinephrine Epinephrine autoinjector prescribed
No other risk factors Able to access medical care
have specifically assessed their efficacy for treating previous biphasic or protracted anaphylaxis, repeat
anaphylaxis [21]. Therefore, we believe that routine doses of epinephrine, wheezing, hypotension, or
use is unnecessary. pharyngeal edema [25].
Given that signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
can return as epinephrine is metabolized, it is pru-
BIPHASIC REACTIONS dent to observe all patients for at least 3–4 h in the ED
A six-fold increase in anaphylaxis hospitalizations after administration of epinephrine. We believe
in the face of stable mortality rates (0.047 cases institutions should adopt clinical practice guidelines
per 100 000 population) was observed over the past to reduce observation periods in low-risk patients,
20 years [22]. This may be because of the rising and we propose one candidate guideline (Table 1).
concern that many patients with anaphylaxis are
at risk for biphasic reactions, a late recrudescence of
anaphylaxis. However, the incidence of clinically PREVENTION OF ANAPHYLAXIS
important biphasic reactions is low. In children, The incidence of anaphylaxis has increased over the
past evidence suggested a rate of biphasic reactions past 15 years [2,3]. This is likely related to an
as high as 20%, but recent data suggest it is much increase in food allergy; peanut allergies have tripled
lower [23,24]. Among adults, the strongest recent in the past 10–15 years and now affect one in
evidence shows a 1–4% rate of biphasic reactions, 50 children [28]. In the 2015 Learning Early About
with most occurring within 8 hours [25,26,27 ]. Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial, high-risk infants
&
observing patients who have experienced anaphy- evidence in favor of early introduction of peanut to
laxis for at least 4–8 h and observe patients with a atopic children and raises the possibility that similar
history of risk factors for severe anaphylaxis for a strategies could be effective for other foods or for the
longer period’ [15 ]. Risk factors include asthma, general population.
&
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Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Emergency and critical care medicine
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.