The symptoms of pediatric anaphylaxis can be difficult to interpret. Know what to look for to make a prompt diagnosis.

An illustrated guide to the latest emergency care guidelines for anaphylaxis shared decision-making strategies for HCPs and caregivers of infants and toddlers with anaphylaxis.

A visual guide designed to assist HCPs in facilitating critical discussions with caregivers on recognizing anaphylaxis and when and how to use epinephrine in infants and toddlers.

• Epinephrine remains underutilized in infants and toddlers with suspected anaphylaxis, despite it being the recommended first-line treatment in this patient population
• Results from this narrative review found that barriers to appropriate epinephrine use include difficulty recognizing anaphylaxis symptoms, low prescribing and refill rates, low epinephrine carrying rates, inadequate training on epinephrine administration, caregiver fear and hesitation to use epinephrine, fears of contacting emergency medical services, and the use of other medications as first-line agents
• Healthcare providers can improve outcomes by educating caregivers on symptom recognition and epinephrine administration, the use of written anaphylaxis action plans, and shared decision-making on when to seek further medical care beyond at-home epinephrine use
• Broader system-level strategies, including improved access to epinephrine in childcare and community settings and expanded educational resources, are needed to increase timely treatment and reduce risks

• This plain language review summarizes findings from 4 key studies that provide comprehensive evidence for parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers with serious allergic reactions, providing the tools necessary for recognition of serious allergic reactions and supporting the appropriate use of epinephrine
• Findings from these studies show that:
• Infants and toddlers may display signs and symptoms of serious allergic reactions differently than in older children and adults, and therefore, identification of a serious allergic reaction may benefit from the use of recently developed investigational modified criteria specific to infants and toddlers
• Epinephrine is often underused, but parents and caregivers are usually more confident in using epinephrine when they have a clearly defined allergy emergency action plan
• Prior experience administering epinephrine under healthcare supervision during an oral food challenge with a healthcare provider also significantly boosts parent and caregiver confidence