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Anaphylaxis is the quintessential medical emergency where prompt recognition and treatment is life-saving. In the UK the incidence is increasing year on year, and is most common in the sixth and seventh decades of life. More than half of cases are iatrogenic in nature, most of the rest are caused by venom (stings) and food substances. The clinical signs can be subtle, but an acute onset of skin or mucosal oedema with respiratory compromise or reduced blood pressure should alert the physician to the diagnosis.