ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a 17-year-old man who is brought to the Emergency Department by his mother after he was stung by a bee. The patient complains that his throat feels itchy and feels like he is having palpitations. He has a history of asthma. General examination reveals a blotchy, erythematous rash on his right leg that is spreading upwards towards his trunk, as well as swelling of his lips and tongue. The patient is suffering from anaphylaxis, which is an acute-onset potentially life-threatening allergic or hypersensitivity reaction. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and must be quickly recognised and treated. Management should proceed along the 'ABCDE' approach; the airway should be secured first and preparations for intubation made should there be evidence of stridor or significant tongue/pharyngeal oedema. The most important treatment in anaphylaxis is adrenaline. At discharge, patients should be prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector and consider once daily oral prednisolone for up to 3 days.
