Reaffirming the importance of epinephrine in first-aid
treatment for anaphylaxis—and written plans for when and how to use it--the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a new, written action plan to
help patients, families, schools and communities best respond to
life-threatening allergic reactions. The plan is featured in the AAP clinical
report, “
Guidance on Completing a Written Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan” published in the March 2017 Pediatrics (published online Feb.
13). Written emergency plans are recommended to improve outcomes for
severe allergic reactions, which can include throat tightness, difficulty
breathing, wheezing and loss of consciousness. Several written plans are
currently in use, which differ in format and recommendations, potentially
leading to confusion in using them. The new AAP plan is customizable, and the
report provides guidance for its use. Accompanying the article is a
second AAP clinical report, “Epinephrine for First-Aid Management of
Anaphylaxis,” which stresses that epinephrine is the first-line treatment for
anaphylaxis, not medications such as antihistamines. According to the AAP, more
education about prompt epinephrine use is needed, particularly for teens who
face higher rates of anaphylaxis deaths likely because they more often
engage in risky behaviors like not carefully avoiding allergy triggers, and not
carrying or promptly using epinephrine.
###
The
American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 66,000 primary
care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric
surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of
infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information,
visit www.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds.