Anaphylaxis: assessment and referral after emergency treatment

Confirming the anaphylactic reaction

After emergency treatment, the doctor should ask questions about the reaction to confirm whether or not it was an anaphylactic reaction. He or she should ask when the reaction began, about the symptoms, their sequence and progress, and what you (or your child) were doing just before that. They should also examine you (or your child) for visible signs of the reaction.

If the doctor suspects an anaphylactic reaction, he or she should take a blood sample as soon as possible after emergency treatment has started. A second sample should be taken ideally within 1 to 2 hours, but no more than 4 hours, from the onset of the first symptoms. The results can then help a specialist decide whether you have had an anaphylactic reaction. In children younger than 16 years, the same blood samples might be required if the cause of the reaction is thought to be venom-related (wasp or bee stings), drug-related, or if there is no immediately identifiable cause.

The doctor should tell you that another blood sample may be needed at the appointment with the specialist allergy service, so that your (or your child's) normal tryptase level can be measured (see after emergency treatment).