Anaphylaxis as a global public problem - indications for General Practitioners and patients

Anaphylaxis is a severe potentially life-threatening systemic hypersensitivity reaction, with rapid onset, involving respiratory and/or cardiovascular symptoms and in vast majority of patients, also dermal symptoms. Currently anaphylaxis rate in Europe equals 1.5-7.9 cases per 100 000 yearly. In epidemiologic studies constant increase of anaphylaxis frequency is observed, while on the other hand it still remains `` underdiagnosed''. What is more, anaphylaxis may occur everywhere, it's course is unpredictable, and triggers of reaction are widely present in everyday life, as also do the co-factors, which may increase the risk of occurrence and severity. Since full prevention before anaphylaxis event is impossible, the key issue is to keep updated basic knowledge of symptoms and first line intervention, including adrenaline, for self-medication. Unfortunately, the results of large cohort multicenter studies indicate that adrenaline in anaphylaxis remains underused, both by medical staff and patients at risk. These observations clearly urge to perform multilevel constant education. Above-mentioned problems initiated the worldwide anaphylaxis campaign, which has started in 2013-2014 years. Poland actively takes part in it (campaign "Be prepared for shock''). Its aim is broad education addressed to medical staff of all levels (GPs, allergists, other medical staff), as well as to wide community (potential patients) and other non-medical professionals in whose every day work, this knowledge is substantial. (C) 2014 Polish Society of Allergology. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.