Anaphylaxis and epinephrine in North Carolina public schools

Abstract

Between 1 and 2 students in every classroom is at risk for anaphylaxis from food ingestion or insect stings. 1 Branum A.M. Lukacs S.L. Food allergy among children in the United States. Pediatrics. 2009; 124: 1549-1555 Crossref PubMed Scopus (563) Google Scholar , 2 Gupta R.S. Springston E.E. Warrier M.R. et al. The prevalence, severity, and distribution of childhood food allergy in the United States. Pediatrics. 2011; 128: e9-e17 Crossref PubMed Scopus (993) Google Scholar The prevalence of pediatric food allergy, in particular, has increased significantly. [1] Branum A.M. Lukacs S.L. Food allergy among children in the United States. Pediatrics. 2009; 124: 1549-1555 Crossref PubMed Scopus (563) Google Scholar Although most reactions in children occur at home, harrowing accounts of fatalities in schools 3 Bock S.A. Munoz-Furlong A. Sampson H.A. Fatalities due to anaphylactic reactions to foods. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001; 107: 191-193 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1358) Google Scholar , 4 Bock S.A. Munoz-Furlong A. Sampson H.A. Further fatalities caused by anaphylactic reactions to food, 2001-2006. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; 119: 1016-1018 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (772) Google Scholar highlight the need for advance preparation. Early studies found that a significant number of school-related anaphylactic reactions occur in individuals without a history of allergy 5 McIntyre C.L. Sheetz A.H. Carroll C.R. Young M.C. Administration of epinephrine for life-threatening allergic reactions in school settings. Pediatrics. 2005; 116: 1134-1140 Crossref PubMed Scopus (126) Google Scholar , 6 Sicherer S.H. Furlong T.J. DeSimone J. Sampson H.A. The US Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy Registry: characteristics of reactions in schools and day care. J Pediatr. 2001; 138: 560-565 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (155) Google Scholar ; consequently, school districts across the country have begun to supply stock epinephrine. Stock epinephrine is a term used to refer to an unassigned supply of epinephrine that may be used to treat anyone experiencing a life-threatening reaction.