Update on the emergency action plan for allergic reactions in children and adolescents. Position of the “Allergy at school” and “Food allergy” working groups of the French Allergology Society

Abstract

The hospital admission rate for anaphylaxis is increasing especially among the youngest children and food is the leading cause of anaphylaxis in children. In 2014, an emergency action plan for accidental food allergic reactions in children has been proposed to the medical community by the French Allergology Society. Since its publication, new information (dissemination of recommendations on the management of anaphylaxis, provision of a new dosage of 0.5mg epinephrine in one of the autoinjector available in France, confirmation of the lack of evidence of the effectiveness of oral corticosteroids in anaphylaxis, experience gained on the use of the current action plan…) has led to an update of the initial emergency action plan. As a result, the “Allergy at school” working group, in conjunction with the task forces“Food allergy” working group of the French Allergology Society, supported by various learned societies, medical and patients’ associations, is proposing an update of the emergency action plan in case of allergic reaction in children and adolescents. The aim of this initiative is to harmonize current practices and to improve the quality of the management of allergic emergencies. The present manuscript combines a rationale on the contents of the emergency kit and the epinephrine autoinjectors.