Anaphylaxis: Drug allergy, insect stings, and latex

The highest rates of anaphylaxis in humans occur in early childhood associated with food allergy. Latex allergy, pharmaceutical drugs, and stinging insect reactions are important later in childhood, with drug allergy peaking in adult populations. Knowledge about diagnosis and therapy of anaphylaxis is critical, because a large percentage of subjects are not previously known to be at risk at the time of initial reactions. This article summarizes the basic clinical knowledge of anaphylaxis in childhood.