Anaphylaxis may be an allergic response that is immunologically mediated, or a nonimmunologically mediated response, or idiopathic. Certain foods, insect venoms, some drugs and latex are common precipitants of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic anaphylaxis. Many drugs can also act through nonallergic mechanisms. A significant proportion of anaphylaxis
is classified as idiopathic, in which there are significant clinical effects but no readily identifiable cause. The relative likelihood of the reaction being allergic, nonallergic or idiopathic varies considerably with age.