| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The first 20% of the full text of this section appears below. |
Section 1. Active and Passive Immunization
Passive Immunization
Treatment of Anaphylactic Reactions
Personnel administering biological products or serum must be able to recognize and be prepared to treat systemic anaphylaxis. Medications, equipment, and competent staff necessary to maintain the patency of the airway and to manage cardiovascular collapse must be available. 16
The emergency treatment of systemic anaphylactic reactions is based on the type of reaction. In all instances, epinephrine is the primary drug. Mild symptoms of skin reaction alone (eg, pruritus, erythema, urticaria, or angioedema) intrinsically are not dangerous and can be treated with antihistamines (Table 1.12, p 66), but using clinical judgment, injection of epinephrine may be given (Table 1.13, p 67). Epinephrine should be injected promptly for anaphylaxis (eg, onset of symptoms minutes to several hours with involvement of skin, mucosal tissue, or both after administration of biological product or serum), which is likely (though not exclusively) occurring if the patient has: (1) skin symptoms (generalized hives, itch-flush, swollen lips/tongue/uvula) and respiratory compromise (dyspnea, wheeze, bronchospasm,
Related Articles
Red Book 2009 2009: XXIX.
Red Book 2009 2009: 42-51.
Red Book 2009 2009: 61a-65a.