Brown used a clinical grading system to describe the severity of a generalized hypersensitivity reaction. The author is from Royal Hobart Hospital in Australia.
Organs Affected |
Severity |
Grade |
skin and subcutaneous tissues only |
mild |
1 |
respiratory, cardiovascular and/or gastrointestinal tract (visceral involvement) |
moderate |
2 |
hypoxia, hypotension and/or neurologic compromise (organ compromise/failure) |
severe |
3 |
Features of skin and subcutaneous involvement:
(1) generalized erythema
(2) urticaria
(3) periorbital edema
(4) angioedema
Features of visceral involvement:
(1) dyspnea
(2) stridor
(3) wheeze
(4) nausea or vomiting
(5) dizziness (presyncope)
(6) diaphoresis (sweating)
(7) chest tightness
(8) throat tightness
(9) abdominal pain
Features of organ compromise/failures:
(1) cyanosis
(2) oxygen saturation <= 92% on room air
(3) systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg (in adults)
(4) confusion
(5) collapse
(6) loss of consciousness
(7) incontinence
Specialty: Immunology/Rheumatology
ICD-10: ,