Symptoms and Signs

Question: What are signs and symptoms of severe anaphylaxis?

Answer

Question: What are signs and symptoms of severe anaphylaxis?

Answer: Anaphylactic or allergic reactions may cause some or all of the following:

  • Wheeze
  • Facial swelling, airway obstruction
  • Desaturation
  • Coughing
  • Blotchy (urticarial) rash
  • Cardiovascular collapse

Question: How is anaphylaxis treated in a child?

Answer

Question: What are signs and symptoms of severe anaphylaxis?

Answer: Anaphylactic or allergic reactions may cause some or all of the following:

  • Wheeze
  • Facial swelling, airway obstruction
  • Desaturation
  • Coughing
  • Blotchy (urticarial) rash
  • Cardiovascular collapse

Question: How is anaphylaxis treated in a child?

Primary actions:

  • ABC
  • Remove possible allergens
  • Adrenaline IM or IV if hypotension or wheeze – repeat after 5 minutes if required
Age IM adrenaline 1:1000 IV adrenaline 1:10 000
>12 yrs 500mcg (0.5ml)

1 mcg/kg (0.01 ml/kg 1:10,000)

NOTE: USE DILUTE ADRENALINE IV
6-12 yrs 300mcg (0.3ml)
<6 yrs 150mcg (0.15ml)

Give fluid bolus - 20 ml/kg 0.9% saline; repeat if necessary.

Secondary actions:

  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Consider intubation if cardiovascular collapse
Age Chlorpheniramine (IM or slow IV) Hydrocortisone (IM or slow IV)
>12 yrs

10 mg

 200 mg
6-12 years 5 mg 100 mg
6mths-6 yrs 2.5 mg 50 mg
<6mths 250 mcg/kg 25 mg