Prevention of anaphylaxis is critical for those who have displayed symptoms in the past. As with all allergies, the best prevention method is to avoid the allergen altogether. For example, patients who are severely allergic to penicillin can use an alternative antibiotic to treat infections. A physician is likely to use an allergy skin test to ensure that these alternatives do not also trigger anaphylaxis.

Sometimes, advising a patient to simply avoid an allergen is not always practical. In such cases, additional safeguards may be prudent.

Allergy shot treatment (immunotherapy) is extremely effective in preventing some cases of anaphylaxis. The goal of immunotherapy is to build up a patient’s tolerance to the allergen. For example, patients at risk from insect stings would receive very low-dose injections of the insect venom until they build up a tolerance to it. Once the tolerance has been established, the likelihood of suffering an allergic reaction to a sting plummets. Some allergies do not respond well to immunotherapy, including food allergies and drug allergies.

Patients who have a history of anaphylaxis need to inform all healthcare providers – including dentists – of this history before undergoing medical care. Many experts also suggest patients wear a medical alert bracelet or pendant or carry a card that identifies allergies. This could save a patient’s life if he or she is unable to communicate during an anaphylactic episode.

Patients can also take commonsense measures to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis. Such steps include:

• food allergies: Always carefully check the ingredients on food labels to make sure they do not contain an allergen likely to cause a reaction. Also, ask about ingredients used in meals when eating in restaurants.
  
  
• Insect allergies: Limit gardening and keep stinging insects away by not wearing perfumes, colognes or bright-colored clothing. Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and closed shoes when possible. Avoid walking barefoot, especially in grass.
  
  
• Latex allergies: Substitute vinyl gloves for rubber gloves. Inform physicians and dentists of latex allergies before any procedure and request that latex-free gloves be used. Also, request that care be exercised to prevent exposure to catheters, adhesives or other latex medical accessories.
  
  
• Exercise: In rare cases, exercise can trigger an allergy that leads to anaphylaxis. It appears that the digestion of certain foods – such as shrimp and celery – prior to exercise can be a contributing factor. Those who have experienced exercise-induced anaphylaxis should avoid strenuous activity for four to six hours after digesting the problem food.

Carrying an allergy kit with an epinephrine injection can also save a person who suffers from anaphylactic reactions.