Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to, such as peanuts or bee stings.
Anaphylaxis causes your immune system to release a flood of chemicals that can cause you to go into shock — your blood pressure drops suddenly and your airways narrow, blocking breathing. Signs and symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse; a skin rash; and nausea and vomiting. Common triggers include certain foods, some medications, insect venom and latex.
Anaphylaxis requires an injection of epinephrine and a follow-up trip to an emergency room. If you don't have epinephrine, you need to go to an emergency room immediately. If anaphylaxis isn't treated right away, it can be fatal.
Seek emergency medical help if you, your child or someone else you're with has a severe allergic reaction. Don't wait to see if the symptoms go away.
If the person having the attack carries an epinephrine autoinjector, administer it right away. Even if symptoms improve after the injection, you still need to go to an emergency room to make sure symptoms don't recur, even without more exposure to your allergen. This second reaction is called biphasic anaphylaxis.
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you or your child has had a severe allergy attack or signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in the past.
The diagnosis and long-term management of anaphylaxis are complicated, so you'll probably need to see a doctor who specializes in allergies and immunology. You will be referred on to the most appropriate doctor by your GP.
Any person with anaphylaxis must have an Anaphylaxis Action Plan. Children diagnosed with anaphylaxis need to supply this plan to the school.
See below for further details.
Anaphylaxis Action Plan
ASCIA Anaphylaxis Action Plans should be reviewed when patients are reassessed by their doctor or nurse practitioner, and each time they obtain a new adrenaline auto injector (EpiPen) prescription, which is approximately every 12 to 18 months. If there are no changes in diagnosis or management the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be updated - however, this should be discussed with the school nurse to ensure that the information we currently have for your child is always kept up to date, even if this means notifying the nurse that there have been no changes. It is important that we also have a recent image of your child on the plan so they can be easily identified. The school nurse can organise this for you by using the most recent school photo for your child.
Current ASCIA Action Plans are the 2020 versions, however, the 2018 versions are still valid for use throughout 2020, or until the review date on the plan. Any plan that has been prescribed that is older than the 2018 version must be reviewed by a doctor at the earliest opportunity.
The plan must also have the doctors/practices clinic stamp. This is so that if an emergency occurs, we have access to your doctors address and provider number in order to be able to update them.
Access the 2020 ASCIA Anaphylaxis Plan here.
More information can also be found at www.allergy.org.au
It is also important to know the details about your child's reaction. Please organise a time to speak to the nurse or email details of their reaction through to be added to your child's file. This will ensure that the staff at NMPS can give your child the most appropriate, tailored management in the event of a medical emergency.
The school nurse will notify you when plans are due to be reviewed and when your child's EpiPen is nearing its expiry.
