Patients
This study was approved by the All patients who were referred to our clinic with a history of anaphylaxis for further management were recruited to the study following informed written consent. The clinical features during anaphylaxis, and the treatment received was available with the patients’ clinical records and the diagnosis cards issued by the hospitals. The patients were evaluated for the possible aetiological factors, and contributing co-factors for the development of anaphylaxis and then relevant skin prick tests were carried out to identify the allergen. Those in whom we could not identify a possible allergen by skin prick tests were classified as having idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA). Accordingly, from January to December 2021, 65 patients were considered to have IA. In all patients the events that led to the episode of anaphylaxis, the foods that were consumed, the severity of symptoms and treatment received were recorded.
Severity of anaphylaxis was classified according to the criteria defined by Brown et al 2004 [15]. Accordingly, those who developed loss of consciousness, confusion, collapse, cyanosis or with oxygen saturation of <92% or incontinence were classified has having had severe anaphylaxis (grade 3).
Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.