
Definitions of anaphylaxis vary considerably, impeding the comparison of different clinical studies. Different definitions of anaphylaxis have been developed as clinical descriptions of severe allergic reactions, different authors emphasizing different symptoms.
The author aimed to develop a simple clinical grading system and definition for anaphylaxis using clinical data. He retrospectively analyzed 1149 case records (median age 29 years) with systemic allergic reactions (30% venom allergy, 22% iatrogenic allergy, 18% food allergy) from an emergency department in Australia. (more…)