Background: In Japan Adrenaline self injector (ASJ) became available for patients with anaphylaxis including children in 2005. Countermeasure against anaphylaxis in Japan is far behind international standards, and understanding of anaphylaxis and its treatment by doctors is thought to be unsatisfactory level.
Methods and subjects: This investigation was carried out using questionnaire towards 1,196 doctors who had contributed nationwide survey of food allergy monitoring in 2005. The investigation was done on January in 2006. The questionnaire consisted of possession of registration as ASJ prescription doctor, prescription experience, indication of ASJ prescription, and timing for patients to use ASJ.
Results: Seven hundred and seven replies were obtained out of 1,196 doctors, and 443 doctors (62.7%) were reported to be registered as an ASJ prescription doctors. Among 443 registered doctors, 209 doctors had experienced to prescribe ASJ. Only 88 percent of doctors accepted the cases with repeated anaphylaxis as criteria for absolute prescription of ASJ, and 41.6 percent of doctors accepted cases with history of anaphylaxis as the criteria. Timing by doctors to inject adrenaline was reported to be cases with circulatory symptom (93.7%), airway mucosa symptom (79.4%), and with respiratory symptom (56.6%),
Discussion: Japanese doctors seem to have unsatisfactory level of knowledge of anaphylaxis . It is important for Japanese doctors to receive appropriate education on anaphylaxis and ASJ.