CHILDHOOD ANAPHYLAXIS: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

CHILDHOOD_ANAPHYLAXIS_NEW_DEVELOPMENTS _IN_DIAGNOSIS_AND_TREATMENT_kapak

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP (EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN)

Tuğba Güler1 İlknur Külhaş Çelik2

1Erzurum City Hospital, Department of Pediatric Immunology and Allergic Diseases, Erzurum, Türkiye
2Selçuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Immunology and Allergic Diseases, Konya, Türkiye

Güler T, Külhaş Çelik İ. Emergency Preparedness in Long-Term Follow-up (Emergency Action Plan). In: Harmancı K, editor. Childhood Anaphylaxis: New Developments in Diagnosis and Treatment. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.325-334.

ABSTRACT

Anaphylaxis is a rapidly progressing, potentially life-threatening systemic hypersensitivity reaction that necessitates urgent intervention. While the acute management of anaphylaxis-primarily involving epinephrine administration-is well-established, long-term management remains crucial to reducing recurrence, minimizing morbidity, and ensuring ongoing patient safety. This review presents a comprehensive and structured multidisciplinary strategy for long-term anaphylaxis care, patient and caregiver education, and systematic emergency preparedness across clinical and community settings. At the core of long-term management is the early and accurate diagnosis of the causative allergen through detailed clinical history and validated testing, conducted by allergy and immunology specialists. These specialists play a pivotal role in developing personalized emergency action plans, prescribing epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs), and delivering targeted education to patients and their families. Emergency preparedness encompasses widespread accessibility of EAIs, routine training programs for caregivers, school personnel, and other community stakeholders, as well as the implementation of schooland community-based response protocols. Patients must carry a clearly written, regularly updated emergency action plan and wear medical identification that reflects their allergy status and risk. Preventing fatal outcomes from anaphylaxis in the long term requires a coordinated, proactive, and individualized approach. This involves continuous professional monitoring, patient empowerment, and community engagement to establish a safety net that protects individuals across all settings-home, school, workplace, and travel.

Keywords: Anaphylaxis; Child; Disease management; Epinephrine; Pediatric emergency medicine

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