What are the key clinical features to recognize anaphylaxis in a primary care setting?

To recognise anaphylaxis in a primary care setting, look for a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction that develops rapidly ².

Key clinical features involve problems across multiple body systems:

• Airway: This includes pharyngeal or laryngeal oedema ².
• Breathing: Signs such as bronchospasm with tachypnoea ².
• Circulation: Manifestations like hypotension and/or tachycardia ².
• Skin and Mucosal Changes: In most cases, these are associated and can include erythema, urticaria, or angioedema ²,⁴.

The onset of these features is usually less than one hour after exposure to a suspected trigger ⁴. The Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure (ABCDE) approach is advised for recognising and managing people with suspected anaphylaxis ¹.