Clinical diagnosis
A poster and pocket card that capture the key
messages in the Guidelines about prompt clinical
diagnosis and initial treatment of anaphylaxis have
been translated into ten different languages [1&&]
(Fig. 1).
The clinical criteria for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis
that emphasize sudden onset of multisystem
symptoms have been validated in a retrospective
cohort study [24&&] of ED patients, in whom they
had excellent sensitivity [96.7%, 95% confidence
interval (CI) 88.8–99.9] and good specificity
(82.4%, 95% CI 75.5–87.6). Additionally, use of
these criteria in epidemiologic studies has significantly
improved identification of patients with anaphylaxis
[25].
Post mortem diagnosis of anaphylaxis can be
difficult when little or no history is available, macroscopic
signs are absent, and blood or other biologic