Recognizing and Treating Anaphylaxis, With Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, M.D.

Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, M.D., founder of the Allergy and Immunology Care Center of South Florida, clinical professor of pediatrics at Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine at Florida International University and Kaléo spokesperson, is lending her voice as a physician, a patient and a mother to Kaléo’s newly launched AUVI-Q Speaks Up campaign. The campaign targets a critical gap in anaphylaxis management: awareness and recognition.

According to Hernandez-Trujillo, the core challenge facing the food allergy and anaphylaxis community is not a lack of treatment options but a lack of timely recognition. When a frightening reaction is unfolding, even the most prepared individuals can find their thinking clouded by panic. That is why she emphasizes a simple, memorable framework: recognize, treat and seek care.

On the clinical side, Hernandez-Trujillo explains that anaphylaxis should be suspected when two body systems are involved following exposure to a known allergen; for example, hives combined with difficulty breathing, or vomiting paired with swelling. A single severe symptom, such as respiratory distress after ingesting a known allergen, can also be sufficient cause for action. Her guiding principle: If you are thinking about reaching for the epinephrine, there is a reason, so use it.

She is also a vocal advocate for the practical advantages of AUVI-Q specifically. For families in the midst of a terrifying reaction, the device's built-in audio and visual cues serve as a real-time guide, reducing the cognitive burden in moments when memory and clarity can fail even experienced caregivers. Carrying two epinephrine auto-injectors at all times, she notes, is not just preparation. It is empowerment.

Hernandez-Trujillo is particularly passionate about reaching teenagers and young adults, encouraging them to see anaphylaxis training not as a burden but as a potential lifesaving skill. A properly trained teenager, she points out, could one day be the person who saves a friend's life.

At its heart, the AUVI-Q Speaks Up campaign is about community. Hernandez-Trujillo reminds patients and families that they are never alone, that robust resources are available through the AUVI-Q website and that confidence grows through education, practice and connection. Awareness, she concludes, saves lives.