TABLE 1.

Diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is highly likely when any one of the following three criteria is fulfilled
1. Acute onset of illness (minutes to several hours), with involvement of the skin, mucosal tissue, or both (e.g., generalized hives, pruritus or flushing, and swollen lips, tongue, or uvula)
AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: a. Respiratory compromise (e.g., dyspnea, wheeze-bronchospasm, stridor, reduced peak expiratory flow (PEF), and hypoxemia)
b. Reduced blood pressure (BP) or associated symptoms of end-organ dysfunction (e.g., hypotonia [collapse], syncope, and incontinence)
2. Two or more of the following that occur rapidly after exposure to a likely allergen for that patient (minutes to several hours): a. Involvement of the skin-mucosal tissue (e.g., generalized hives, itch-flush, and swollen lips, tongue, or uvula)
b. Respiratory compromise (e.g., dyspnea, wheeze-bronchospasm, stridor, reduced PEF, and hypoxemia)
c. Reduced BP or associated symptoms (e.g., hypotonia [collapse], syncope, and incontinence)
d. Persistent gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., crampy abdominal pain and vomiting)
3. Reduced BP after exposure to a known allergen for that patient (minutes to several hours): a. Infants and children: low systolic BP (age specific) or greater than 30% decrease in systolic BP
b. Adults: systolic BP of less than 90 mm Hg or greater than 30% decrease from that person’s baseline