You have full access to this open access article. Epinephrine is the emergency medication of choice: if in doubt, use the epinephrine auto-injector. Inform your personal and social environment about anaphylaxis: Close relatives and caregivers should also be familiar with the use of emergency medications. You do not need to hide your condition: Be open about your allergy and the risk of anaphylaxis.
Ask about relevant allergens when you visit a restaurant or go out for dinner. It was possible to involve not only the subspecialty of allergology but also the sub specialities anesthesiology and intensive care medicine, dermatology, pediatrics, internal medicine, oto-rhino-laryngology, emergency medicine, pharmacology, pneumology, and theoretical surgery for the methodology of guideline development.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an acute allergic immediate reaction that can be potentially life-threatening. It manifests itself in various organ systems, most commonly the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. The symptoms usually start acutely and can progress rapidly. An anaphylactic reaction is classified as an emergency and must be treated immediately.
Depending on the organs affected and the intensity of the reaction, the treatment procedure is carried out by the patient himself, by caregivers or by medical personnel called in. A distinction is made between objective symptoms, i. Often, at the onset of an anaphylactic reaction, these subjective general symptoms may manifest as milder discomfort and may be accompanied by feelings of anxiety or disorientation.
In children, this manifests as restlessness, drowsiness, or withdrawal behavior. Nausea, cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea may occur here, as well as an involuntary urge to urinate or defecate.
