Allergy care pathway for drug allergy

Drug allergy is a reaction to a medicinal product. This is one of several allergy care pathways, which tell health professionals what they need to know in order to provide the best care possible.

About

The College's care pathway for drug allergy is presented in two parts:

  • an algorithm with the stages of ideal care, and
  • a set of competences required to diagnose, treat and optimally manage drug allergy.

The algorithm has numbers which correspond to the competences outlined within the body of the document.

We recommend that this pathway is implemented locally by a multidisciplinary team with a focus on creating networks between staff in primary and community healthcare, social care, education and hospital-based practice to improve services for children with allergic conditions. All specialists should have paediatric training.

Download the full RCPCH Care Pathway for Children with Drug Allergy below.

Definition

Drug allergy is defined as an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to a medicinal product and may be divided into Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated (immediate-onset) reactions and non IgE-mediated (delayed-onset) reactions.

The Working Group acknowledges a wide range of adverse reactions occur to medicinal products and this pathway does not cover the treatment of these reactions.