CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Adrenaline has rightly earned the title of the doctors friend, since it is the drug
that is turned to at times of greatest need. There are several clinical applications for
adrenaline, most of them in situations where patients are acutely ill including anaphylaxis.
There are a lot of anaphylaxis cases happen around the world. In a population-based study
in Rochester, Minnesota from 1990 2000, its found that the highest number of
anaphylaxis among ages is in children (75.1 per 100,000 person-years) and this number is
increasing by year.
In children, anaphylaxis usually triggered by foods, such as nuts, cows milk, fish,
and eggs. The manifestation of anaphylaxis also vary; for example cutaneous symptoms
tend to be be less in children than in adults while respiratory problems is present more in
children. This variation and lack of symptoms make it hard to diagnosed. This is still faced
as one big challenge especially for physicians and medical worker.
As a medication, adrenaline is the drug of choice for treating anaphylaxis.
Adrenaline acts non-selectively at all the adrenergic receptors causing increased
vasoconstriction, decreased mucosal edema, increased inotropy/chronotropy, and
bronchodilation. Since anaphylaxis is a very life threatening condition, adrenaline should
be administered accurately to give an optimal results. Nowadays, its still a challenge in
giving a prompt treatment to a person who is suspected of having an anaphylaxis even for
the physicians.
This paper is focusing on how adrenaline used as the treatment of anaphylaxis
especially in children, what is the effect, how to give, what is the contraindication, adverse
effect, etc. By understanding the effect of adrenaline as the treatment of anaphylaxis in
children, we as physicians prepared to treat anaphylaxis accurately and as the result there
will be decreasing rate of mortality caused by anaphylaxis especially among children.
The specific anaphylaxis management plan decisions must be tailored towards the
individual child. It will be influenced by the childs previous allergic reactions, coexisting
medical conditions and social circumstances. The prescription of self-injectable adrenaline
is part of a larger, comprehensive approach to the management of anaphylaxis. It is
mandatory for high-risk subjects.