How anaphylaxis is treated

Epinephrine helps reverse airway swelling, breathing difficulty, and circulatory collapse. Delaying it while waiting for an antihistamine, inhaler, or steroid to work can allow the reaction to progress.

The initial treatment is epinephrine injected into the outer thigh, usually with a prescribed auto-injector before the ambulance arrives. Emergency clinicians reassess the airway, breathing, circulation, alertness, and skin while monitoring for a response.

Depending on the symptoms, additional care may include oxygen, intravenous fluids, airway support, inhaled medicine for persistent bronchospasm, or further epinephrine. Antihistamines can help skin symptoms after the person is stabilised, but they do not treat dangerous airway or blood-pressure effects. Steroids are not a substitute for epinephrine.

Use the prescribed auto-injector as soon as anaphylaxis is suspected, then call UAE emergency services and say that the person may be having anaphylaxis. Note the time the medicine was given. If the written action plan recommends another prescribed dose because symptoms persist or return, follow that instruction while help is coming.

Lay the person flat with their legs raised when possible. Someone struggling to breathe may sit with legs extended, and a person who is unconscious but breathing should be placed on their side. Avoid sudden standing or walking. Remove an ongoing trigger only when this can be done safely, and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.

Call immediately for throat or tongue swelling, a hoarse voice, noisy or difficult breathing, wheezing, persistent cough, faintness, confusion, pale or clammy skin, collapse, or rapidly developing symptoms in different body systems after a likely trigger. Skin changes may be absent, so do not wait for hives before treating serious breathing or circulation symptoms.

Anyone given epinephrine needs medical assessment because symptoms can recur after appearing to settle. Keep the used injector for the clinical team and remain with the person until emergency help takes over.

Review the likely trigger, early warning signs, injector technique, storage, expiry checks, and when the action plan calls for an additional dose. Ask whether allergy testing or specialist assessment would clarify avoidance. Make sure caregivers know where the injectors are kept and can recognise the point at which treatment should begin.