Signs that someone is experiencing anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a rapidly developing, severe allergic reaction. It may affect the skin, airways, breathing, circulation, and stomach at the same time or in sequence. Warning features include swelling of the lips or tongue, a tight throat, hoarse voice, wheezing, trouble breathing, dizziness, collapse, pale or clammy skin, or sudden confusion.

A rash is not required. Someone can have a dangerous reaction without obvious skin changes, particularly when breathing or circulation is affected. Food Allergy is one possible trigger, but medicines, insect stings, and other exposures can also cause it.

Call emergency services immediately. If the person has a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector, use it without delay according to its instructions. Keep them lying down with legs raised if comfortable; allow someone struggling to breathe to sit with legs extended. Do not let them stand or walk.

Stay with the person, monitor breathing, and follow the emergency operator's instructions. If symptoms continue or return and another prescribed injector is available, emergency guidance may advise using it. Do not offer food or drink to someone who is struggling to breathe or becoming drowsy.

Treat sudden airway swelling, breathing difficulty, wheezing, collapse, faintness, or rapidly worsening allergic symptoms as an emergency, even if the person seems to improve after adrenaline. Hospital observation is needed because symptoms can return. A person who becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally needs emergency resuscitation instructions.

Ask what triggered the reaction, whether allergy testing is appropriate, how to use an auto-injector, how many devices to carry, and how to create an emergency action plan for home, work, school, or travel.