Anaphylaxis Statistics

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. It is the sudden onset of severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms that occur within minutes to hours of exposure to an allergen.

Anaphylaxis Prevalence

One out of every 20 U.S. adults have experienced anaphylaxis at least once.

Statistics of Anaphylaxis Causes

Anaphylaxis is caused by exposure to a trigger or allergen. The most common triggers include:

• Foods (32-37%)
  • The most common foods to cause anaphylaxis include peanut, tree nuts, milk, egg, sesame seeds, fish, and shellfish.
  • 51% of adults with food allergy have experienced anaphylaxis.
• Medication (21-58.8%)
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are responsible for 48.7–58.8% of incidents.
  • Antibiotics, particularly amoxicillin.
• Insect sting (15.2-25%)
  • Bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets 
  • Fire ants 
• Idiopathic or unknown (11-19.5%)

In infants, food accounts for most cases of anaphylaxis. Hen’s eggs and cow’s milk are the most common culprits.

Statistics of Anaphylaxis Symptoms

Symptoms may affect the skin, lungs, tongue, lips, throat, stomach and intestines, and heart and blood vessels.

17-33% develop abdominal symptoms. These include abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.

73-98% of people develop skin and mucosal symptoms. These include throat tightness, hives, and angioedema.

74-81% develop respiratory symptoms. These include difficulty breathing, throat swelling, and wheezing.

31-39% develop cardiovascular symptoms. These include chest pain, low blood pressure, and dizziness or fainting.

Anaphylaxis Morbidity and Mortality

• About half of all episodes of anaphylaxis occur at home, but 14% occur in hospital settings.
• Most people report more than 2 or more prior episodes of anaphylaxis.
• 19% report more than 5 episodes.
• 42% sought treatment within 15 minutes of the onset of symptoms.
• 34% went to the hospital.
• 27% treated themselves with antihistamines.
• 11% self-administered epinephrine.
• 10% called 911.
• One in twenty cases may need hospitalization.
• There are 225 deaths per year from anaphylaxis.
  • 58.8% of deaths are due to a medication allergy.
  • There are 72 deaths yearly from an insect venom allergy.

School Children and Anaphylaxis

42% of children with food allergy have had a prior severe reaction. 16% report having had a reaction at school or daycare.

A 2016 survey found that 31.8% of school nurses reported at least one episode of anaphylaxis at their school in the previous year.

25% of children who experience a severe reaction at school requiring epinephrine did not have a previously diagnosed severe allergy.

One study found that nearly half (47%) reactions start in the classroom, another 20% in the cafeteria and 10% on the playground.

A 2013-2014 study on anaphylaxis in schools found that:

• 44.9% occurred in high school students.
• 18.9% occurred in middle school students.
• 32.5% in elementary school students.
• 25% of events were in students with no known allergies.
• Food is the most common trigger (60%).
• Unknown trigger in 21.6% of cases.
• All 50 states permit students to carry and self-administer epinephrine.
• Many schools provide training on identifying anaphylaxis:
  • 37.3% for the school nurse and select staff.
  • 30.4% provided training for all staff.
  • 28.2% for most staff.
  • 2.0% for only the school nurse.
• Schools often limit who can administer epinephrine:
  • 55% of school allow the school nurses and select trained staff.
  • 21.5% of schools allow all staff.
  • 15.6% of schools allow most staff.
  • 3% of schools allow only the school nurse.

Economic Burden of Anaphylaxis

• The direct costs associated with anaphylaxis are $1.2 billion annually.
  • $294 million for epinephrine alone.
• Indirect costs associated with anaphylaxis are $609 million annually including loss of work productivity.