Anaphylaxis Mock Exam

A knowledge check covering severe allergic reactions: how to spot anaphylaxis, when to use an adrenaline auto-injector, how to position the person, and why you still call 999. It draws on the same emergency steps we teach on our allergy and anaphylaxis sessions, including spare pens in schools. It is not an accredited exam.

Practice quiz

20 questions

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Question 1. What is anaphylaxis?

A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction
A mild itch that always stays on the skin
A stomach bug caused by undercooked food
A panic attack that never affects breathing

Question 2. Which of these is a common trigger of anaphylaxis?

Drinking too much water
A food allergen such as peanuts, milk or eggs
Being a bit tired after PE
A mild headache on a hot day

Question 3. Can anaphylaxis happen in someone with no known allergy?

No - it only happens if they already carry a pen
No - it only happens after three mild rashes
Yes - a first reaction can happen with no previous diagnosis
Only in adults over 18

Question 4. Which sign means you should treat this as anaphylaxis, not a mild rash?

A few hives on one arm, and they are chatting normally
A blocked nose from hay fever, with no other signs
A small local swelling after a nettle sting, walking and talking
They are struggling to breathe, or the tongue or throat is swelling

Question 5. You suspect anaphylaxis. What should you do about emergency help?

Call 999 at once and say you suspect anaphylaxis
Drive them to the GP surgery yourself first
Wait 30 minutes to see if the rash fades
Send them to walk to the school office alone

Question 6. A child with a known allergy is swelling around the lips and wheezing. They have an auto-injector. What should you do?

Give an antihistamine only and see how they are after lunch
Help them use their adrenaline auto-injector and call 999
Ask them to walk briskly to get fresh air
Put them in a hot bath to draw out the allergen

Question 7. How should you position someone with anaphylaxis who is conscious?

Get them to stand and walk to the car
Sit them on a high stool with legs hanging
Lie them down with legs raised, or sit them up if they cannot breathe lying down - do not walk them
Hang them upside down to drain the allergen

Question 8. A pupil looks unwell with suspected anaphylaxis in the dining hall. What must you not do?

Stay with them and bring the emergency kit to them
Call 999 from where they are
Help them use their auto-injector if they have one
Send them walking on their own to the office

Question 9. You need to give an EpiPen. After you hear the click, how long should you hold it in place?

About 3 seconds, then remove it
At least 30 seconds without moving
Take it out as soon as you hear the click, with no hold
Hold it for 10 minutes

Question 10. Where should an adrenaline auto-injector be given?

The upper arm, like a vaccine
The outer mid-thigh
Straight into a vein in the hand
The buttock

Question 11. There is no improvement 5 minutes after the first adrenaline dose. What next?

Assume it did not work and give no more adrenaline
Give four extra antihistamine tablets instead
Give a second adrenaline dose into the other thigh if you have another device, and stay on the line with 999
Stand them up to see if they feel better

Question 12. Why is an antihistamine tablet not enough on its own for anaphylaxis?

They always make anaphylaxis worse
They must never be given to children for any allergy
They replace the need to call 999
They do not reverse life-threatening breathing problems or shock quickly enough

Question 13. After you have given adrenaline, they look a bit better. Do you still need 999?

Yes - they still need an ambulance, because symptoms can return
No - if they smile they can go back to lessons
No - drive them home to rest
Only if a rash is still visible

Question 14. In a school, who can a spare (unassigned) adrenaline pen be used for in an emergency?

Only the one pupil whose name is printed on the box
Anyone on site having anaphylaxis, including someone with no known allergy
Only teaching staff, never pupils
Only if a parent is on the phone to agree

Question 15. What is the point of a pupil's Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) for allergy?

It replaces the need for any adrenaline on site
It is only for the school nurse and must not be read by other staff
It sets out their allergens, signs, and the emergency steps staff should follow
It is optional paperwork with no practical use

Question 16. A bee sting is still in the skin and the child is becoming wheezy. What should you do about the sting?

Squeeze it with tweezers to pull the sac out
Ignore breathing problems until the sting is sent for testing
Cut the skin to get the sting out
Scrape it out with a card or fingernail, then treat anaphylaxis if it is starting

Question 17. They become unresponsive but are breathing normally after adrenaline. What should you do?

Put them in the recovery position and keep checking breathing
Sit them upright in a chair unattended
Give them a drink of milk
Walk them around to keep them awake

Question 18. They collapse and are not breathing normally. What is the priority?

Wait for the adrenaline to work before doing anything else
Start CPR and use an AED if available
Only give rescue breaths, never compressions
Put them in a sitting W position

Question 19. Why do school staff practise with trainer EpiPen or Jext devices?

Because trainer pens contain a weaker dose of adrenaline
So they never need to use a real pen in an emergency
To build muscle memory for the real device, without using adrenaline
To replace 999 calls in schools

Question 20. Should you wait for a skin rash before giving adrenaline?

Yes - never give adrenaline until a rash is visible
Yes - wait at least 20 minutes for hives to appear
Only give adrenaline if the rash does not fade under a glass
No - give adrenaline if breathing, airway swelling or collapse suggest anaphylaxis