Tickets, Sun Cream, Adrenaline Pen!
22 July 2010, London – A reminder is being issued today to people affected by severe life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) who are preparing and planning a holiday either here in the UK or abroad.
The message is simple - enjoy your holiday but be vigilant and be prepared.
The warning is part of an on-going campaign developed by the charity, The Anaphylaxis Campaign, in response to a need to remind people who carry adrenaline auto-injectors, also known as adrenaline pens, to check their device to ensure the medicine hasn’t expired and to carry it at all times in case of emergencies.
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction that progresses rapidly and can be fatal if not managed quickly1. Around 210,000 patients in the UK are prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors2 ready to use in an emergency to counter the allergic reaction whilst waiting for medical help.
Dr Adam Fox, Consultant Paediatric Allergist, London and member of The Anaphylaxis Campaign’s Scientific Advisory Panel is supporting this new drive. “Summer holidays are a time to relax but not to let your guard down too much if you do have a severe allergy. With new foods to try, plenty of outdoor eating, ice-creams, and for adults, perhaps one too many glasses of sangria or wine, holidays can be a tricky time for people with allergies. Access to healthcare may not be as available outside the UK so anyone who is at risk of anaphylaxis must remember their adrenaline auto-injector, ensure it’s up-to-date so they have it on stand-by should they need it. They should also know that these devices should ideally be kept under 25ºC, but not frozen.“
This year over 575,000 adrenaline auto-injectors carried by patients in the UK are expiring due to manufacturing cycles3. Allergy company ALK-Abelló, is also supporting the campaign to help remind patients to check their device, a message highlighted by research which shows that almost 1 in 3 people4 prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors are likely to have an out-of-date device. Dr Stephen Lombardelli, Medical Director at ALK-Abelló commented, “expired medicine within the auto-injector means the dose could be lower than recommended5 which could potentially reduce its effect when used in an emergency. Although the shelf-life for adrenaline auto-injectors is up to 18 months we do know that many patients are dispensed devices with a much shorter shelf-life. We now offer an email or text service to help remind patients when to renew.” Details of these services can be found via www.anaphylaxis.org.uk.
Lastly, the campaign also wants to inform those with a venom allergy to wasps or bee stings that the peak weeks for insect stings in the UK, as quoted by WaspWatch, are the last two weeks in July, the first two weeks in August, with the worst week forecast as the week of the 16th August6.For those people allergic to bee and wasp venom, extra care should be taken to avoid being stung while enjoying an outside BBQ or picnic during this time of year. This type of allergic reaction can be particularly fast-acting1,7.
Lynne Regent, Chief Executive of The Anaphylaxis Campaign explained, “We certainly don’t want to stop people having fun over the summer holidays; we are simply reminding people with allergies, and their families that preparation will help reduce the risk of any unwanted reactions. Preparation means checking that adrenaline auto-injectors are in date and that they are carried at all times. There is a wealth of information and tips on our website and we offer tailored services for our members.
References:
1. Pumphrey R, Clin. & Exp. Allergy; Vol.30. pp 1144-1150, 2000
2. ALK-AbellóData on file, 1, 2009
3. ALK-AbellóData on file, 2, 2009
4. IMS Mediplus database June 2008
5. Simons F E R et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2009; 124:2, 301-306
6. from waspwatch.co.uk viewed 8th July 2010
7. Simons F E R et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998; 101: 33-7