PATIENT INFORMATION
I have severe allergies
Tell the team the exact substance and what happened when you were exposed.
Why details matter
“Allergy” can mean very different things. It may describe a rash, swelling, breathing difficulty, fainting, anaphylaxis, nausea or another side effect. The reaction matters when planning which medicines and materials can be used safely.
A true allergy and a side effect need different planning. Labelling a side effect as an allergy may mean a useful medicine, such as an antibiotic, is avoided unnecessarily.
What to tell the team
- The exact name of the medicine, food or material
- What happened and how quickly
- What treatment was needed, such as an adrenaline injection or hospital admission
- When it happened
- Whether you have had allergy testing, and the results
Allergies particularly relevant to surgery
- Antibiotics
- Latex (rubber gloves, balloons)
- Skin cleaning products, such as chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine, and the exact reaction you had
- Adhesive tapes and dressings
- A previous reaction during an anaesthetic
What to bring
Bring any allergy letter, test results, medical alert bracelet or card, and your adrenaline auto-injector if you have one.
If you had a serious reaction during a previous anaesthetic that was never investigated, tell the team as early as possible. They may recommend allergy assessment before further anaesthesia.