The anaphylactic reaction

Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening hypersensivity reaction.¹ The hypersensitivity reaction may be generalised or systemic and tends to occur within minutes.

Anaphylaxis can be an allergic reaction that is immunologically mediated, or a non-immunologically mediated response, or idiopathic.² Allergic anaphylaxis in relation to food triggers, wasp or bee stings (venom) and latex is immunologically mediated, but anaphylaxis caused by medications is not.¹ Most anaphylactic reactions are idiopathic: a trigger is not identifiable from the history.

Anaphylaxis presents with airway compromise as a result of pharyngeal and/or laryngeal oedema and breathing difficulty. The latter is caused by an increased respiratory rate and/or bronchospasm.