ABSTRACT. Objectives. To identify the causative agents, presenting signs and symptoms, and course of disease in children diagnosed with anaphylaxis.Design. Five-year retrospective chart review. Setting. Urban children's hospital pediatric emergency department, operating suite, and inpatient units.Participants. Fifty-five cases of anaphylaxis in 50 patients 1 to 19 years of age.Interventions. None. Results. The most common inciting agents in this population were latex (27%), food (25%), drugs (16%), and venoms (15%). Thirty-two cases (58%) occurred outside of the hospital, including 3 of 11 severe cases. Nineteen (35%) had histories of prior allergy to the causative agent. Most agent exposures were intravenous (38%), oral (27%), or dermal (20%). The most common systems involved were respiratory (93%), skin (93%), cardiovascular (26%), and neurologic (26%). Features distinguishing the 11 patients requiring intensive care included latex agents (45%), nonenteral route of exposure (91%), and presence of cardiovascular symptoms (45%). Of the 17 patients with known past anaphylaxis, only 5 had epinephrine self-administration devices available, and 3 had used them.Conclusions.

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