Anaphylaxis management in Australian schools: Review of guidelines and adrenaline autoinjector use

Sandra Vale; Merryn J Netting; Lara S Ford; Briony Tyquin; Vicki McWilliam; Dianne E Campbell

doi:10.1111/jpc.14307

Anaphylaxis management in Australian schools: Review of guidelines and adrenaline autoinjector use

J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Feb;55(2):143-151. doi: 10.1111/jpc.14307. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Authors

Sandra Vale^{1

2}, Merryn J Netting^{2

3

4

5}, Lara S Ford^{2

6

7}, Briony Tyquin⁶, Vicki McWilliam^{8

9

10}, Dianne E Campbell^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ National Allergy Strategy, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
² Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Healthy Mothers Babies and Children's Theme, South Australian Health Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁴ Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁵ Nutrition Department, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁶ Department of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁸ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Allergy and Immunology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 30523652
DOI: 10.1111/jpc.14307

Abstract

Food allergy and anaphylaxis is increasing in Australian children, and anaphylaxis is relatively common in Australian schools. This review aims to provide an overview of current policies and practices for anaphylaxis management in Australian schools, including approaches to risk mitigation and anaphylaxis training. We reviewed literature related to anaphylaxis training in the school setting published between 2010 and 2018. Current anaphylaxis policies/guidelines were obtained from Australian education and health departments, and reports of suspected anaphylaxis and adrenaline autoinjector (AAI) use for 2016-2017 were obtained from education departments where available. Our review of policies/guidelines across Australian jurisdictions indicates inconsistent approaches to anaphylaxis management training. Almost half of Australian school anaphylaxis events required a general-use AAI, administered to students not identified as at risk of anaphylaxis. Development of clear, evidence-based, consistent guidelines related to anaphylaxis management and training in the school setting is imperative to minimise risk.

Keywords: anaphylaxis; food allergy; school.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anaphylaxis / drug therapy*
Australia
Child
Drug Delivery Systems / instrumentation*
Epinephrine / administration & dosage*
Food Hypersensitivity / drug therapy*
Humans
Schools*
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

Epinephrine