Introduction
The following pre-referral guideline covers medication allergies for children of all ages. These referrals will be triage accordingly, depending on information provided.
When to refer to RCH Department of Allergy and Immunology
- Suspected allergic reaction to a medication, where the medication is being avoided
- Severe delayed reaction to a medication such as severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR eg AGEP, DRESS, SJS/TENS), serum sickness (SS) or serum sickness like reaction (SSLR)
- Intraoperative allergic reaction (suspected anaesthetic allergy)
- Drug desensitisation required
Do not refer
- For allergy screening, if there is no clear history of allergic reaction to the medication
- Family history of allergy to a medication, if the child has not previously received the medication
Wait times for appointments
Specialist Clinic wait times
Referral criteria/required information
Obtain information about the allergic reaction from the parents and include in your referral as much detail as possible. Referrals may be rejected if information is insufficient to triage appropriately
Please include:
- Medication name, dose and formulation (eg mixture, tablet or capsule)
- Timing of the reaction:
- Date of the reaction
- Number of doses that were given prior to the onset of symptoms
- Time from the dose to onset of symptoms (symptom onset <1h or >=1h after the dose?)
- Time from the last dose to resolution of symptoms
- Type of reaction eg anaphylaxis, SCAR, SS/SSLR, bronchospasm, rash
- Management/treatment eg was hospitalisation required for the reaction?
- Medications that were tolerated (eg if referring for suspected antibiotic allergy, which other antibiotics were tolerated prior to and since the reaction?)
- If anaesthetic allergy is suspected and the child requires another anaesthetic within 3 months, please include the proposed date (or approximate date) of the next procedure
How to refer
RCH Specialist Clinics Referral and
Intraoperative allergic reactions: In addition to the RCH Referral form, we require completion of the ANZAAG referral form below
ANZAAG referral form
Please complete both forms above and submit via:
Facsimile (03) 9345 5034 or
Email screferrals@rch.org.au
Urgent clinical query: Call ED or Allergy and Immunology Fellow or Consultant on-call (03) 9345 5522 or email allergy.clinic@rch.org.au if less urgent query
Suggested pre-referral work-up/management
Information for families
Resources and links
The development of this guideline was coordinated by the Department of Allergy and Immunology (Dr Sharon Choo, Dr Paulina Alhucema and Clinical Nurse Consultant Lilly Healey). Guideline reviewed in April 2026