INTRODUCTION
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction to foods such as peanuts, nuts and shellfish, drugs such as penicillin or general anaesthetic agents, latex, bee or wasp venom or can occur spontaneously (idiopathic)1. It is characterised by cardio-respiratory and muco-cutaneous manifestations and requires prompt administration of epinephrine2. The lifetime prevalence of anaphylaxis is approximately 0.05-2.0% in the USA and around 3% in Europe1 and there is evidence to suggest that prevalence has increased during the last two decades3.
Much of the research investigating the impact of anaphylaxis on people’s lives has focused on children and adolescents. During development of food allergy quality of life (QoL) scales for children, it was reported that those with a history of anaphylaxis to food had poorer QoL and greater anxiety than those with no such history4. Qualitative research with adolescents at risk of food-related anaphylaxis has noted the worry surrounding such a reaction and the fear of having to use an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI)5,6. Similarly for anaphylaxis associated with insect venom or drugs, poorer quality of life has been reported in comparison to people without such allergies7-9.
Research on the impact of anaphylaxis on adults is sparse, with studies generally focusing on one particular allergen. No quantitative studies look at the psychological impact of anaphylaxis across its variety of causes, on adults. Two qualitative studies conducted in the UK investigated the impact anaphylaxis has on daily lives of adults10,11. Both studies reported similar important themes, including the fear elicited by having an anaphylactic reaction, followed by the frustration in having to manage the condition at that stage of their lives; the need to have some control over their condition and the important role provided by friends, family and the medical profession in supporting their management.
Anaphylaxis is the most serious type of allergic reaction. Greater understanding of the impact this has on adults across different triggers might improve quality of clinical care and help to direct psychological support where necessary. We recently developed and validated a QoL scale for anaphylaxis in adults12. The aim of this study was to assess the impact anaphylaxis has on the QoL and mental health of adults, using validated measures.