28% of patients with history of anaphylaxis don't even have a prescription for epinephrine

An e-mail survey was conducted in Canada. Anaphylaxis was defined as the most severe sudden-onset allergic reaction ever experienced by the participants. The survey focused on survivors of anaphylaxis in the community.

Of the 1885 participants (survivors of anaphylaxis), only 27% were epinephrine users.

Epinephrine users were more likely to:

- report respiratory or shock symptoms

- report peanut, fish, or insect sting triggers

- be asthmatic

- have taken or been given asthma medication on the day of the episode

Epinephrine nonusers reported not injecting epinephrine for various reasons:

- use of an H(1)-antihistamine (38%)

- no prescription for epinephrine (28%)

- mild anaphylaxis episode (13%)

References:
Anaphylaxis in the community: Learning from the survivors. Simons FE, Clark S, Camargo CA Jr. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Jun 18.

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