Management of Anaphylaxis in Emergency Medicine
Summary
Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening systemic hypersensitivity reaction requiring immediate recognition and intervention. Prompt intramuscular administration of adrenaline remains the cornerstone of treatment, with delivery into the mid-outer thigh to achieve rapid plasma concentrations and reversal of bronchospasm, mucosal oedema and vasodilatation. Airway patency must be secured and supplemental oxygen given, while intravenous access allows fluid resuscitation to counter distributive shock. Adjunctive therapies such as H1-antihistamines and corticosteroids may ameliorate cutaneous symptoms and prevent biphasic reactions, but should not delay adrenaline administration. Continuous monitoring of vital signs, cardiac rhythm and respiratory status informs the need for escalation to advanced airway manoeuvres or vasopressors. After stabilisation, patients require observation for recurrence, education on trigger avoidance and provision of personal emergency action plans and self-injectable devices.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Management of Anaphylaxis in Emergency Medicine publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in management of anaphylaxis in emergency medicine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Anaphylaxis: A severe, rapid-onset systemic allergic reaction characterised by airway compromise, circulatory collapse and cutaneous manifestations.
Intramuscular adrenaline: The administration of adrenaline into the muscle, typically the mid-outer thigh, to achieve swift vasoconstriction and bronchodilation.
Epinephrine autoinjector (EAI): A prefilled, spring-loaded device designed for rapid self-administration of a fixed dose of adrenaline in emergency settings.
Distributive shock: A form of circulatory failure marked by abnormal peripheral vasodilatation and plasma leakage, leading to reduced tissue perfusion.
References
- Who Needs Epinephrine? Anaphylaxis, Autoinjectors, and Parachutes. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice (2023).
- Development of neffy, an Epinephrine Nasal Spray, for Severe Allergic Reactions. Pharmaceutics (2024).
- World Allergy Organization Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Anaphylaxis. World Allergy Organization Journal (2011).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.