Food Allergy Induced Anaphylaxis: An Overview

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical treatment and evaluation. The prevalence of food allergies has risen during the last few decades, resulting in increased awareness of the potential for anaphylactic reactions and the need for patient and parent education around how to properly treat a reaction in the nonhospital setting. This article will address the epidemiology, patho-physiology, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of anaphylaxis. While anaphylaxis can result from exposure to non-food allergens (ie, medication, insect stings, environmental allergens), this article will specifically focus on the role of food allergies in anaphylaxis. [.