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Aetiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • Although it is uncommon, most commonly encountered precipitants include food, drugs and venom (1)
    • vaccines
    • drugs:
      • antibiotics
      • heparin
      • neuromuscular blocking agents
      • iron injections
      • anti-inflammatory analgesics
      • contrast media
    • hyposensitising agents
    • insect bites and stings- wasp, bee
    • blood products
    • certain foods, for example peanuts, almonds,walnut, fish,milk
  • the relative significance of these factors varies with the age, in that(1):
    • food is particularly significant in children
    • drugs being a much more common cause in the elderly.
  • it is more likely to occur after parenteral injections. The reaction is likely to be more severe if the patient is re-exposed.
  • although atopic patients are more susceptible, why some individuals should react so markedly to this repeat exposure to an antigen is not understood.

Reference:

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