Preventing an anaphylactic shock just means avoiding the allergen. However if someone has gone into anaphylaxis, it’s important to narrow down likely causes such as foods or medicines consumed or exposure to insects. This approach will also help to exclude conditions that can sometimes be confused with anaphylaxis like fainting attacks or epileptic fits.
If allergy is suspected adrenaline will most likely be administered. The hormone adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) works rapidly to widen the air passages, restore blood pressure and reverse the effects of anaphylaxis and, as such, should be considered essential first aid treatment.
Many anaphylactic sufferers carry their own adrenaline auto-injectors that contain a single, premeasured dose of adrenaline, and have been designed to be given by a non-medical person, such as a friend, teacher, childcare worker, parent, passer-by or by the patient themselves (if they are not too unwell to do this).
There are two brands of adrenaline auto-injectors available in Australia and New Zealand: