Anaphylaxis occurs when the body develops a reaction against a specific substance. Causes include medicines, foods, insect stings and latex. In some cases, no cause is found.
There is a small chance that symptoms can occur within the next 72 hours (usually within eight hours). This is known as a biphasic reaction and is treated in the same way as any anaphylaxis.
The patient must have an adrenaline auto-injector pen (JEXT) and shown how to use it.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include:
- Breathing difficulty or wheeze
- Swelling of the face, tongue or throat
- Dizziness, feeling faint or collapse
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above:
- Sit down and use your adrenaline auto-injector pen immediately
- Seek help
It is advisable to see your doctor to have a second adrenaline (jext) pen prescribed. You must keep a pen with you all times and regularly check its expiry date. If you use your pen you must get another prescribed.
To use Jext
- Remove the pen from its flip-top case
- Grasp the pen in your dominant hand with your thumb closet to the yellow cap
- Pull off the yellow cap with your other hand
- Push black tip firmly into your outer thigh until you hear a click, confirming the injection has started, and keep it pushed in. (please note that you can perform the injection) through clothing if necessary.
- Hold the injector in place against the thigh for ten seconds, then remove.
- The needle shield will automatically cover the needle when the jext is removed from the thigh.
- Massage the area for ten seconds.
- Make sure you tell the paramedics that an adrenaline pen has been given.
For more information on how to give jext, see
www.jext.co.uk/jext-video-demonstrations.aspx.
Disposal of your Jext pen
Do not dispose on a domestic bin. Please take your pen to the local pharmacy for disposal.
Ref: Basildon Univ. Hosp, UK