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Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening, severe allergic reaction. The immediate assessment of patients having an allergic reaction and prompt administration of epinephrine, if criteria for anaphylaxis are met, promote optimal outcomes. National and international guidelines for the management of anaphylaxis, including those for management of allergic reactions at school, as well as several clinical reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend the provision of written emergency action plans to those at risk of anaphylaxis, in addition to the prescription of epinephrine autoinjectors. This clinical report provides information to help health care providers understand the role of a written, personalized allergy and anaphylaxis emergency plan to enhance the care of children at risk of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. This report offers a comprehensive written plan, with advice on individualizing instructions to suit specific patient circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a summary of the Synopsis Book by the American Academy of Pediatrics on advances and key observations that will impact the care of children with allergic and immunologic diseases from 2016 to 2017. Topics discussed include an increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases, studies on anaphylaxis and the need for education on preparedness and management and studies on immunotherapy for food allergy.

The article discusses research which evaluates the beneficial effects of routine immunotherapy as an early intervention in patients with childhood-onset atopic asthma. It references a study by H. Nagaya and colleagues in a 2006 issue of the "International Archives of Allergy and Immunology." The beneficial effects of immunotherapy on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were analyzed retrospectively in 43 unselected patients. Results showed that there was a significant inverse correlation between the duration of asthma symptoms before immunotherapy and the changes in FEV1 before and after immunotherapy. It is recommended that immunotherapy should be started as early as possible at the youngest age.