More than half of the children who are prescribed an epinephrine auto injector don't receive it before arriving at the emergency department, according a study published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Researchers examined 408 pediatric records for patients seen in an emergency department or urgent care setting for anaphylaxis.
The study showed fewer than 50 percent of the pediatric patients received epinephrine prior to arriving at the ED or UC. However, approximately 65 percent of patients had a recorded history of anaphylaxis and 47 percent had been prescribed epinephrine.
Additionally, researchers found children who had a severe allergic reaction at school were more likely to receive epinephrine than those who had a reaction at home. Children who received epinephrine prior to ED or UC arrival were also more likely to be sent home than those who didn't.
"Allergists want parents, caregivers and emergency responders to know epinephrine should always be the first line of defense when treating anaphylaxis," said David Stukus, member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Public Relations Committee and co-author of the study. "Our study found that only two-thirds of those who had an epinephrine prescription had their auto injector available at the time of their allergic reaction. It's vital to keep your epinephrine with you if you suffer from any sort of severe allergy."