This guideline is the basis of QS119 and QS97.
Overview
This guideline covers assessment and referral for anaphylaxis. It aims to improve the quality of care for people with suspected anaphylaxis by detailing the assessments that are needed and recommending referral to specialist allergy services.
Who is it for?
Healthcare professionals
Commissioners and providers
People with suspected anaphylaxis and their families and carer
Introduction
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. It is characterised by rapidly developing, life-threatening problems involving: the airway [pharyngeal or laryngeal oedema] and/or breathing [bronchospasm with tachypnoea] and/or circulation [hypotension and/or tachycardia]. According to Resuscitation Council UK’s guideline on emergency treatment of anaphylactic reactions, in most cases, there are associated skin and mucosal changes.
In emergency departments a person who presents with the signs and symptoms listed above may be classified as having a ‘severe allergic’ reaction rather than an ‘anaphylactic’ reaction. Throughout this guideline, anyone who presents with such signs and symptoms is classed as experiencing a ‘suspected anaphylactic reaction’, and should be diagnosed as having ‘suspected anaphylaxis’.
People who have had a mild or moderate allergic reaction are at risk of, and may subsequently present with, suspected anaphylaxis. Certain groups may be at higher risk, either because of an existing comorbidity [for example asthma] or because they are more likely to be exposed to the same allergen again [for example people with venom allergies or reactions to specific food triggers]. These groups were not included within the scope of this guideline, which is specific to those who have received emergency treatment for suspected anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis may be an allergic response that is immunologically mediated, or a non-immunologically mediated response, or idiopathic. Certain foods, insect venoms, some drugs and latex are common precipitants of immunoglobulin E [IgE]-mediated allergic anaphylaxis. Many drugs can also act through non-allergic mechanisms. A significant proportion of anaphylaxis is classified as idiopathic, in which there are significant clinical effects but no readily identifiable cause. The relative likelihood of the reaction being allergic, non-allergic or idiopathic varies considerably with age.
Food is a particularly common trigger in children, while medicinal products are much more common triggers in older people. In the UK it is estimated that 500,000 people have had a venom-induced anaphylactic reaction and 220,000 people up to the age of 44 have had a nut-induced anaphylactic reaction.
There is no overall figure for the frequency of anaphylaxis from all causes in the UK. Because anaphylaxis presents mainly in accident and emergency departments and outpatient settings, few estimates of prevalence are available from NHS sources. Anaphylaxis may not be recorded, or may be misdiagnosed as something else, for example, asthma. It may also be recorded by cause, such as food allergy, rather than as an anaphylactic reaction.
Available UK estimates suggest that approximately 1 in 1,333 of the population of England has experienced anaphylaxis at some point in their lives. There are approximately 20 deaths from anaphylaxis reported each year in the UK, with around half the deaths being iatrogenic, although this may be an underestimate.
After an acute anaphylactic reaction, it is believed that many people do not receive optimal management of their condition. One reason for this is healthcare professionals’ lack of understanding when making a diagnosis, for example failing to differentiate anaphylaxis from less severe histamine-releasing reactions or from other conditions that mimic some or all of its clinical features. Another reason is a lack of understanding of when or where to refer patients. This can affect the likelihood of the person receiving a definitive diagnosis, which can lead to anxiety, inappropriate management and recurrent reactions. It can also lead to avoidable costs for the NHS and increase the need for acute care.
1. Recommendations
People have the right to be involved in discussions and make informed decisions about their care, as described in NICE’s information on making decisions about your care.
Making decisions using NICE guidelines explains how we use words to show the strength [or certainty] of our recommendations, and has information about prescribing medicines [including off-label use], professional guidelines, standards and laws [including on consent and mental capacity], and safeguarding.
The following guidance is based on the best available evidence. The full guideline gives details of the methods and the evidence used to develop the guidance.
1.1. List of all recommendations
1.1.1.Document the acute clinical features of the suspected anaphylactic reaction [rapidly developing, life-threatening problems involving the airway [pharyngeal or laryngeal oedema] and/or breathing [bronchospasm with tachypnoea] and/or circulation [hypotension and/or tachycardia] and, in most cases, associated skin and mucosal changes].
1.1.2.Record the time of onset of the reaction.
1.1.3.Record the circumstances immediately before the onset of symptoms to help to identify the possible trigger.
After a suspected anaphylactic reaction in adults or young people aged 16 years or older, take timed blood samples for mast cell tryptase testing as follows:
a sample as soon as possible after emergency treatment has started
a second sample ideally within 1 to 2 hours [but no later than 4 hours] from the onset of symptoms.
After a suspected anaphylactic reaction in children younger than 16 years, consider taking blood samples for mast cell tryptase testing as follows if the cause is thought to be venom-related, drug-related or idiopathic:
a sample as soon as possible after emergency treatment has started
a second sample ideally within 1 to 2 hours [but no later than 4 hours] from the onset of symptoms.
Inform the person [or, as appropriate, their parent and/or carer] that a blood sample may be required at follow-up with the specialist allergy service to measure baseline mast cell tryptase.
1.1.7.Adults and young people aged 16 years or older who have had emergency treatment for suspected anaphylaxis should be observed for 6 to 12 hours from the onset of symptoms, depending on their response to emergency treatment. In people with reactions that are controlled promptly and easily, a shorter observation period may be considered provided that they receive appropriate post-reaction care prior to discharge.
1.1.8.Children younger than 16 years who have had emergency treatment for suspected anaphylaxis should be admitted to hospital under the care of a paediatric medical team.
1.1.9.After emergency treatment for suspected anaphylaxis, offer people a referral to a specialist allergy service [age-appropriate where possible] consisting of healthcare professionals with the skills and competencies necessary to accurately investigate, diagnose, monitor and provide ongoing management of, and patient education about, suspected anaphylaxis.
1.1.10.After emergency treatment for suspected anaphylaxis, offer people [or, as appropriate, their parent and/or carer] an appropriate adrenaline injector as an interim measure before the specialist allergy service appointment.
1.1.11.Before discharge a healthcare professional with the appropriate skills and competencies should offer people [or, as appropriate, their parent and/or carer] the following:
information about anaphylaxis, including the signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction
information on what to do if an anaphylactic reaction occurs [use the adrenaline injector and call emergency services]
a demonstration of the correct use of the adrenaline injector and when to use it
a prescription for 2 adrenaline injectors, with advice to carry the injectors with them at all times
advice about how to avoid the suspected trigger [if known]
information about the need for referral to a specialist allergy service and the referral process
information about patient support groups. [amended August 2020]
Each hospital trust providing emergency treatment for suspected anaphylaxis should have separate referral pathways for suspected anaphylaxis in adults [and young people] and children.
2. Research recommendations
The Guideline Development Group has made the following recommendations for research, based on its review of evidence, to improve NICE guidance and patient care in the future.
2.1. Mediators of anaphylactic reactions
Aside from mast cell tryptase, which other chemical inflammatory mediators offer potential as indicators of anaphylaxis?
Why this is important
Although mast cell tryptase is widely used to support the diagnosis of anaphylaxis, it is not universally suitable. Mast cell tryptase is not always elevated in children, when food is the allergen, or when the main severe feature is respiratory.
It is recommended that a cross-sectional study be carried out into the diagnostic accuracy of other potential chemical inflammatory mediators. The study should be conducted in both adults and children who have had a suspected anaphylactic reaction. The sensitivity and specificity of the proposed mediator should be compared against mast cell tryptase, using clinical assessment in conjunction with immuno-allergic study as the reference standard for both. The diagnostic accuracy of any mediator should be carried out for a range of potential allergens.
2.2. The frequency and effects of biphasic reactions
What are the frequency, timing, severity and predictors of biphasic reactions in people who have received emergency treatment for anaphylaxis?
Why this is important
Limited evidence was found on the frequency, timing severity and predictors of biphasic reactions and the resulting effect of these on morbidity and mortality.
It is recommended that a UK-based prospective cohort study be conducted that follows patients up after emergency treatment for anaphylaxis.
The study should follow people up for 7 days after discharge from the emergency department. The aim is to collect data on the predictors [for example, the person’s response to the initial treatment], the time to any reaction, the severity of any biphasic reaction and the effect of the biphasic reaction on morbidity and mortality.
2.3. Length of observation period following emergency treatment for anaphylaxis
For how long should a person who has received emergency treatment for anaphylaxis be observed?
Why this is important
No studies were found that compared different observational periods or the effect of these on relevant patient outcomes.
It is recommended that a cluster randomised controlled trial is conducted for people who have received emergency treatment for anaphylaxis.
The interventions for the trial should be differing time periods of observation, within the secondary care setting, ranging from 1 hour to 24 hours after symptom resolution of the index reaction. Patients should then be followed up for 7 days following the end of the observational period to determine if a biphasic reaction has occurred and the effects of any reaction. The aim is to determine whether differing periods of observation have a detrimental effect on morbidity and mortality and to gather information about resource use.
2.4. Prevalence of anaphylactic reactions and related outcomes
What is the annual incidence of anaphylaxis and its related outcomes within the UK?
Why this is important
Limited evidence exists on the annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions and their associated outcomes within the UK.
It is recommended that a prospective observational study be conducted that records the annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions within the UK.
The overall number of anaphylactic reactions that occur in adults and children should be recorded and these should be classified into those that are first-time reactions, recurrent reactions or biphasic reactions. A clear, pre-defined, definition of what constitutes an anaphylactic reaction should be used, in order to avoid the misclassification of milder reactions. Data should also be collected on any emergency treatment that was delivered [by a clinician, use of an adrenaline injector] and the associated outcomes [morbidity, mortality, adverse events]. Data should also be collected on any previous treatment received, such as that from a specialist allergy service or the provision of adrenaline injectors.
2.5. Effect of specialist services on health-related quality of life
For people who have experienced suspected anaphylaxis, what is the effect on health-related quality of life of [a] referral to specialist allergy services and [b] provision of adrenaline injectors, when compared with emergency treatment alone?
Why this is important
The GDG believed that referral to specialist services and/or the provision of adrenaline injectors was likely to provide day-to-day HRQoL benefit for people who have experienced suspected anaphylaxis, as a result of decreased anxiety and ongoing support. However, the health economic model relied on GDG opinion alone to quantify this benefit. Future economic analyses would be greatly improved by a reliable demonstration of this effect and an estimate of its magnitude. It is recommended that data are collected using validated measure[s] of HRQoL, including EQ-5D.
Terms used in this guideline
AnaphylaxisAnaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. It is characterised by rapidly developing, life-threatening problems involving: the airway [pharyngeal or laryngeal oedema] and/or breathing [bronchospasm with tachypnoea] and/or circulation [hypotension and/or tachycardia]. In most cases, there are associated skin and mucosal changes.
Biphasic anaphylaxisAfter complete recovery of anaphylaxis, a recurrence of symptoms within 72 hours with no further exposure to the allergen. It is managed in the same way as anaphylaxis.
Idiopathic anaphylaxisDenotes a form of anaphylaxis where no identifiable stimulus can be found. All known causes of anaphylaxis must be excluded before this diagnosis can be reached.
Suspected anaphylaxisThe diagnosis, prior to assessment by a specialist allergist, for people who present with symptoms of anaphylaxis.
In emergency departments a person who presents with the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis may be classified as having a ‘severe allergic’ reaction rather than an ‘anaphylactic’ reaction. Throughout this guideline, anyone who presents with such signs and symptoms is classed as experiencing a ‘suspected anaphylactic reaction’, and should be diagnosed as having ‘suspected anaphylaxis’.
Please see the NICE glossary for an explanation of terms not described above.
Update information
August 2020: Advice was added to recommendation 1.1.11 that people should be offered a prescription for 2 further adrenaline injectors before discharge and advised to carry these with them at all times.
Minor changes since publication
October 2020: We deleted ‘further’ from recommendation 1.1.11 to clarify that people should have a total of 2 adrenaline injectors to carry with them at all times.
Your responsibility: The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian.
Local commissioners and providers of healthcare have a responsibility to enable the guideline to be applied when individual professionals and people using services wish to use it. They should do so in the context of local and national priorities for funding and developing services, and in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities. Nothing in this guideline should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with complying with those duties.
Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.
Created: December 14, 2011; Last Update: August 24, 2020.