Request an Anaphylaxis Action Plan
In Australia, schools and childcare providers usually require an ASCIA action plan for the children under their care who have a diagnosis of anaphylaxis.
This allows symptoms of anaphylaxis to be recognised quickly and treated appropriately.
Qoctor doctors can provide assessment for anaphylaxis action plans for children aged 3 and over. Same day appointments are usually available. If approved by the doctor, the action plan will be available to download after a brief video consultation. Simply sign up, answer some online questions, have a short video consultation, then download the action plan. The service costs $31.99 for an action plan, or $36.99 for action plan plus new prescription for autoinjector (Epipen).
How does it work?
- Before the video consultation, you will be asked to complete a brief online questionnaire, so we can get the details of your child’s history of anaphylaxis.
- During the video consultation, you will speak to an experienced Australian doctor who will go through some questions with you.
- Following the consultation, if approved by the doctor, you can download the anaphylaxis action plan immediately/ print it at your convenience.
Advantages of getting an action plan with Qoctor:
- Our well-established online doctor service has been providing telehealth since 2015.
- It is just $31.99 for an appointment ($36.99 if you also need to request a new autoinjector (Epipen) prescription).
- We’re open 7 days a week, and a same day appointment is usually possible.
Our aim is to remove the hassle from healthcare, and offer a safe, affordable and efficient online doctor service.
FAQs – requesting an anaphylaxis action plan online
If you need to request an asthma action plan, an allergy action plan or an anaphylaxis action plan from Qoctor, you’ll usually be able to book your video appointment and, if approved by the doctor, get your document downloaded- all within a few hours. Occasionally, if you happen to be booking late in the day, you may need to wait till the following morning for the next available consultation.
Once your consultation is complete and the doctor has approved the action plan, the document can be downloaded immediately, so you’ll be able to provide it to your child’s school or childcare provider as soon as possible.
Qoctor can provide consultations for asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis action plans to children aged 3 years and above, subject to the online assessment with the doctor.
Please note, if your child has poorly managed symptoms and/or is having a lot of episodes of their asthma/allergy/anaphylaxis, it is likely that you will be advised to see a doctor in person instead, in which case a refund can be offered.
1- LAY THE PERSON FLAT – do NOT allow them to stand or walk
• If unconscious or pregnant, place in recovery position- on left side if pregnant
• If breathing is difficult allow them to sit with legs outstretched
• Hold young children flat, not upright
2 GIVE ADRENALINE INJECTOR
3 Phone ambulance – 000 (AU) or 111 (NZ)
4 Phone family/emergency contact
5 Further adrenaline may be given if no response after 5 minutes
6 Transfer person to hospital for at least 4 hours of observation
IF IN DOUBT GIVE ADRENALINE INJECTOR
Commence CPR at any time if person is unresponsive and not breathing normally
ALWAYS GIVE ADRENALINE INJECTOR FIRST, and then asthma
reliever puffer if someone with known asthma and allergy to food, insects or
medication has SUDDEN BREATHING DIFFICULTY (including wheeze, persistent
cough or hoarse voice) even if there are no skin symptoms
Symptoms & signs of anaphylaxis include
- Tight or constricted breathing
- Swelling of the tongue
- Difficulty speaking and sometimes a hoarse voice
- Swelling or tightness in the throat
- Rapid heart rate and low blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness/collapse
- Pale appearance and floppiness in small children or babies
Sometimes there may be milder signs of allergy before the above symptoms start, which can include:
- A tingling sensation around the lips or mouth.
- Hives or welts
- Abdominal pain and vomiting (although these are viewed as signs of anaphylaxis in the case of insect allergy)
In around 1 in 5 cases, there may be a second bout of anaphylaxis within 12 hours of the first. This is called biphasic anaphylaxis.
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) was established in 1990 as the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand. ASCIA action plans are standardised documents that allow parents, carers and teachers to take the correct steps to recognise and treat allergies and anaphylaxis affecting children under their care.
Allergic diseases are amongst the fastest growing chronic disease and public health issues in Australia, affecting around 20% of the population. They include food, insect and drug allergies, asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and eczema. The most severe type of allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis, which is potentially life threatening.
Adrenaline autoinjectors are designed to be given by non-medical people, such as parents, school and childcare staff, friends, passers-by or the allergic person themselves (if they are well and old enough). Adrenaline autoinjector devices contain a single, fixed dose of adrenaline that works rapidly to reverse the episode of anaphylaxis. Instructions regarding correct use are included on the device labels, and on ASCIA Action Plans
No, unfortunately Qoctor cannot offer a Medicare rebate for telehealth. This is due to Medicare regulations in place since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, which state that a patient must have seen a doctor in person within the past 12 months for a Medicare rebate to be applied to most telehealth appointments. Therefore, as a fully online telehealth service, Qoctor can not offer Medicare rebates. However, Qoctor aims to keep services as affordable and accessible as possible, providing same day appointments in most cases.
The cost of a telehealth appointment to discuss an ASCIA allergy or anaphylaxis action plan (including the video consultation with the doctor) is $31.99.
If a patient wishes to also get a prescription for a new adrenaline autoinjector (Epipen) at the same time as the action plan, the total cost is $36.99.
It is a fully private service. Unfortunately Qoctor is unable to offer bulk-billing for telehealth consultations, as Medicare rules dictate that the doctor must have seen the patient face to face within the previous 12 months for a rebate to be applied for most telehealth services. This is obviously not possible for a fully online telehealth provider such as Qoctor. However, we strive to keep our service accessible and affordable for all.
ASCIA Action Plans do not expire- the plan is actually still valid beyond the “review date”, which is just a guide for patients to see their doctor. Ideally, ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when patients are reviewed by their doctor and/or each time they obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector (Epipen) prescription, which is generally every 12 to 18 months. If there are no changes in a person’s condition or treatment, the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be changed. However, if the patient is a child, the photo should be updated regularly, so they can be easily identified.
For more information on anaphylaxis and action plans, check out the ASCIA website.
ASCIA Action Plans were first developed in 2003 to standardise the recognition of signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and provide easy to follow steps for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. They continue to be used as the standard action plans throughout Australia and New Zealand. The content is regularly reviewed by experts and updated as necessary.
Qoctor uses up to date ASCIA templates for all action plans.
Common anaphylaxis triggers include
- Foods such as peanuts, tree-nuts, fish, shellfish and others
- Medications- such as antibiotics, aspirin, intravenous contrast
- Insect stings and bites- from wasps, bees, fire ants, hornets, yellow jackets
- Latex
- Rarely, exercise is a cause of anaphylaxis- in some cases, exercise after eating certain foods or exercising in certain temperatures.
- A history of certain medical conditions can increase the risk of having anaphylaxis, including the presence of other allergies and asthma.
Anaphylaxis is a severe life-threatening allergy. Normally, the immune system defends the body against threats such as bacteria and viruses. An allergy is when a person’s immune system reacts abnormally to something it’s exposed to- for example, food, pollen, animal dander, insect bites or medication. The immune system releases chemicals in response to the trigger. Mild allergy leads to symptoms such as itchy eyes, hives and a runny nose. However, in anaphylaxis the allergic reaction is much more severe and can happen within moments of exposure to a trigger- a wave of chemicals is released by the immune system, quickly affecting a person’s breathing and circulation. It is a medical emergency and usually requires urgent treatment with an adrenaline injection (such as an Epipen).
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