Most Kids in Anaphylaxis Have No Treatment Before Presenting to Urgent Care or ED

Barely more than a third of children brought to an urgent care center or emergency room with anaphylaxis have received epinephrine before arriving, according to a new study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. According to the report, which reflects the cases of 408 children with an average age of 7.25 years, just 36% of the patients had received epinephrine before reporting to an urgent care center or ED. The odds were much higher for children whose reaction occurred in school (61%) than at home (31%). The biggest problem, according to the authors, is that parents (and even school nurses and emergency responders) don’t really understand indications for epinephrine even if they have it on hand. This phenomenon presents an opportunity for urgent care providers to help families understand when and how to use epinephrine. If a patient history reveals relevant allergies, engage the parents and patient to find out how they would deal with an anaphylaxis event. Your time is likely to be rewarded with better-prepared families, appreciative customers, and good word-of-mouth.