UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Anaphylaxis

Category: Critical Care

Keywords: anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, shock (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/20/2009 by Mike Winters, MBA, MD (Updated: 12/4/2024)
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Clinical Manifestations of Anaphylaxis

  • Importantly, manifestations of anaphylaxis occur along a continuum and are dependent upon the type, route, and quantity of antigen exposure.
  • Cutaneous (90%), respiratory (40-70%), cardiovascular (30-35%), gastrointestinal (40%), neurologic (10%), ocular, and genitourinary symptoms can all be seen.
  • Include anaphylaxis in the differential of any patient with undifferentiated shock, as 10% will not manifest the cutaneous symptoms of urticaria and/or angioedema.

References

Winters ME. Anaphylaxis. In: Field JM (ed) The Textbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care and CPR. Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009:530-7.