Food allergy, dermatologic diseases, and anaphylaxisAnaphylaxis, killer allergy: Long-term management in the community
Section snippets
Risk assessment
In the long-term management of anaphylaxis, risk assessment includes confirmation of the diagnosis by retaking the history of the acute episode and reviewing the results of laboratory tests, if any, obtained at the time; evaluation of comorbidities and concurrently administered medications; and verification of the trigger factor or factors.
Long-term risk reduction
Long-term risk reduction includes optimal management of relevant comorbidities (eg, asthma or cardiovascular disease), avoidance of confirmed triggers, and specific preventive treatment where relevant, as well as providing at-risk individuals with a personalized anaphylaxis emergency action plan and medical identification, and coaching them in the use of self-injectable epinephrine.
Anaphylaxis education
Education of individuals with anaphylaxis and their families and caregivers helps to banish anxiety and fear and instills confidence in their ability to cope, not only by preventing anaphylaxis episodes, but also by recognizing and treating them promptly if they occur. All health care professionals, including all physicians, nurses, emergency medical service technicians, and first responders need regular anaphylaxis education updates. Ideally, advanced cardiac life support instruction should
Summary
There is more to anaphylaxis than the acute and potentially life-threatening emergency itself, critically important as that is. Physicians, particularly allergy-immunology specialists, play a pivotal role in long-term management of anaphylaxis, which encompasses, yet goes beyond, their traditional role in diagnosing and treating the acute event. All individuals with anaphylaxis should be referred to a specialist physician who is knowledgeable about (1) risk assessment, including verification of
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