Daijiworld Media Network - Ohio
Ohio, Dec 29: New recommendations for administering epinephrine during acute allergic reactions (AAR) are expected to significantly improve early recognition, timely management and patient outcomes, particularly in community settings where non-medical personnel are often the first responders.
The recommendations have been developed by a 34-member international panel of anaphylaxis experts, who focused on creating practical, easy-to-understand guidance that can be used not only by healthcare professionals but also by patients, caregivers and the general public.
As part of the process, the expert panel first defined different levels of severity of acute allergic reactions across multiple organ systems, including cardiovascular and neurological, respiratory, skin and mucosal, and gastrointestinal systems. The symptoms were deliberately chosen to be easily identifiable by non-medical individuals.
The panel then evaluated 24 clinical scenarios representing a wide range of possible allergic reactions and determined whether epinephrine should be administered in each case. The complete set of guidelines is now being converted into a smartphone application, which will be accessible to both medical and non-medical users.
Acute allergic reactions can be triggered by foods, insect stings, medications and even unknown factors, with severity ranging from mild skin irritation to life-threatening anaphylaxis. In places such as homes, schools, workplaces, restaurants and aircraft, it is often non-medical personnel who must quickly assess symptoms and decide whether epinephrine is required.
Studies show that only about 7 per cent of adults and 21 per cent of children receive epinephrine before reaching a hospital during anaphylaxis, leading to preventable deaths, biphasic reactions and other serious complications. While individuals at risk are usually provided with emergency action plans, there has so far been no broad consensus on best practices for epinephrine use by non-healthcare professionals.
Timothy Dribin, Associate Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio and lead author of the study, said the absence of widely accepted guidelines has resulted in confusion among patients and caregivers, as well as inconsistent medical practices. He noted that this has contributed to both underuse and overuse of epinephrine in emergency situations.
Looking ahead, Dribin said an open-access smartphone app would allow users to enter observed symptoms and receive real-time guidance on whether epinephrine should be administered and when emergency medical care is required. He added that with funding support from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the research team has partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to develop the application, working closely with patients, caregivers and clinicians to ensure its practical usability.