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Food Allergy Action Plan for the Treatment of Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis [anna-fih-LACK-sis] is a serious allergic reaction that can progress rapidly. It may involve multiple body organ systems. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. People with food allergies should have a food allergy action plan to help guide them on recognizing symptoms and prompt treatment to stop the reaction.

Symptoms of Serious Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in children, teens, and adults include:

Skin rash, itching, hives
Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
Shortness of breath, trouble breathing, wheezing, coughing
Stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea

Common signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in infants and toddlers include:¹

Skin rash, itching, hives
Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
Stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, spitting up
Tongue thrusting, tongue pulling, licking lips repeatedly, ear pulling
Arching back, bringing knees to the chest
Coughing, wheezing, hoarse voice, belly breathing, chest or neck “tugging”
Rubbing eyes, itchy or red eyes

Treatment for Anaphylaxis

Epinephrine works quickly and can stop the symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. It is important to use it immediately. Epinephrine is the only proven treatment for anaphylaxis to reduce the risk of hospital stays or even death.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has conducted or supported many studies on anaphylaxis. These studies helped experts identify symptoms of anaphylaxis in infants and toddlers, understand the use of epinephrine by parents and caregivers, and create the first validated food allergy anaphylaxis action plan.²

AAFA’s Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Action Plan provides information and instructions on how to manage an allergic reaction. It includes:

Symptoms to watch in infants/toddlers or children ages 3 and older (including teens and adults)
Instructions for using epinephrine
What to do in an emergency

Take the form below to your doctor and have them fill it out and review it with you. This plan can be shared with schools, babysitters, and other caregivers of kids with food allergies.

Download:
Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan for Children – Under Age 3 (PDF)

Download:
Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan for Children – Age 3 and Up (PDF)

Medical Review: May 2025 by Matthew Greenhawt, MD, MBA, MSc

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References

Pistiner, M., Mendez-Reyes, J. E., Eftekhari, S., Carver, M., Lieberman, J., Wang, J., & Camargo, C. A. (2021). Caregiver-reported presentation of severe food-induced allergic reactions in infants and toddlers. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2020.11.005

Anagnostou, A., Abrams, E. M., Anderson, W. C., Carver, M., Eftekhari, S., Golden, D. B., Jaffee, H., Lieberman, J. A., Mack, D. P., Mustafa, S. S., Shaker, M. S., Spergel, J. M., Stukus, D. R., Wang, J., & Greenhawt, M. (2025). Development of a Validated, Updated North American Pediatric Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Management Plan. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2025.03.027

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Anaphylaxis facts: A serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening; requires immediate treatment with epinephrine; certain people are more at risk (if you have asthma, if you have a history of anaphylaxis); typically starts within minutes after contact with your allergen and get worse fast; symptoms usually affect more than one part of the body; may not occur the same way when it happens again (it an be worse or have different symptoms than the past)

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