​​More than one in 10 emergency presentations for anaphylaxis are due to medications with a “concerning” proportion of those down to herbal products, a Victorian study has revealed. 

The statewide review assessed ED presentations for anaphylaxis in all public and private hospital emergency departments in Victoria over two years.

It found food caused the majority, 62%, of the total 4273 anaphylaxis episodes reported. Hospitalisation was required by one-third of patients and intensive care by 2.6% — 7% of those admitted.

Medications were responsible for 12% of presentations, with almost half (48%) related to antimicrobial drugs.