Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Anaphylaxis is an acute systemic reaction with symptoms of an immediate-type allergic reaction which can involve the whole organism and is potentially life-threatening [ 1 β 3 ].
The definition of anaphylaxis is not globally uniform. At present different classification systems are used. In German-speaking countries, the classification used here has generally been applied until now. Anaphylactic reactions are the most severe and potentially life-threatening dramatic conditions seen in allergy. Acute treatment is based on international guidelines and recommendations in textbooks. This was subsequently updated and published as a guideline in [ 5 ]. On resolution of the board of directors of the DGAKI of , the anaphylaxis working group was asked to update the guideline.
The members of this working group have met several times, together with experts from other associations such as allergology, anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine, dermatology, pediatrics, internal medicine, otolaryngology, emergency medicine, pharmacology, pneumology and theoretical surgery.
There were consensus conferences in Wiesbaden in September , in Grainau in March , in Munich in January , October and December and finalizing via electronic mail rounds. Case series were of greatest importance, whereas theoretical reflections influenced the assessment only when singular cases, nor case series or experimental investigations could not be used for the evaluation.
As a whole, the number of meaningful studies of anaphylaxis treatment is so low that its management remains empirical in many fields and is often derived from pathophysiological reflections. Anaphylactic reactions may come to a spontaneous standstill at any symptomatic stage, but they may also progress in spite of adequate therapy.
