ABSTRACT
The word anaphylaxis means without protection.1 The current understanding of this disease has revealed that anaphylaxis is an overreaction of the normal immune system as opposed to a delayed or absent response. In the most severe cases, the clinical presentation consists of sudden hypotension with or without bronchospasm or laryngeal obstruction. The differential list is not long and the pharmacologic treatment is straightforward. Patients with anaphylaxis can be assessed and promptly treated before ED arrival. Indeed, the successful recognition and management of anaphylaxis can be extremely rewarding for both patient and provider; in many cases the patient’s response to therapy can be quite dramatic.
