Child health · UKMLA & AKT
Anaphylaxis
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Sudden onset, rapidly progressive reaction with airway and/or breathing and/or circulation compromise, usually with skin/mucosal changes. Absence of skin changes does not exclude the diagnosis.
- Urticaria/erythema - pruritic wheals; present in up to 80%
- Angioedema - swelling of lips, tongue, face, throat
- Stridor - laryngeal oedema, upper airway obstruction; greater immediate threat to life than bronchoconstriction
- Wheeze/dyspnoea - lower airway bronchoconstriction
- Hypotension and tachycardia - distributive shock; SBP <90 mmHg is a red flag
Stridor = laryngeal oedema = upper airway obstruction. This takes absolute priority - nebulised bronchodilators do NOT address upper airway oedema and must never delay IM adrenaline.
Unlock the full Anaphylaxis revision
Get the complete high-yield notes (3 more sections covering investigations, management and complications), practice questions, mock exams and Sal, the AI tutor. Start free.