Diagnosi e gestione dell’ anafilassi nel dipartimento di emergenza urgenza: revisione della casistica clinica dell’ anno 2014

Anaphylaxis is defined by the World Allergy Association as “a serious, life-threatening generalized or systemic
hypersensitivity reaction” and “a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and might cause death”.
There are not many clinical studies about the diagnosis and the management of anaphylaxis. This is a study made
in the Emergency Department of Nuovo Ospedale Civile S. Agostino Estense of Modena lasted 1 year. Patients
discharged or hospitalized with the diagnosis of allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, urticaria, and angioedema have
been considered.
45 patients were included in the study. Cutaneous symptoms were the most frequent (93,3%), followed by respiratory
symptoms (73,3%), cardiovascular symptoms (44,4%) and gastroenteric symptoms (13,3%). The management
of anaphylaxis was not good because epinephrine was administred only in 24,4% of patients. At the discharge,
counselling was made in 70,6% of patients.
As the international medical literature underlines, it is necessary to improve the management of anaphylaxis above
all the treatment (epinephrine must be the first drug to administer in the ED) and the counselling.