Question

A 10-year-old boy has been brought to the emergency department (ed) by ambulance in apparent anaphylaxis after accidentally eating a snack bar that contained peanuts. the ed nurse should be aware that this patient's signs and symptoms are attributable to:

Answer 1

The emergency department nurse should be aware that the patient is having anaphylaxis due to a massive release of histamine. The emergency department nurse should be aware that an apparent anaphylaxis presents as difficulty breathing, decreased SpO2, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and other signs and symptoms attributed to shock. The nurse should recognize that peanuts are one of the most common allergens in triggering anaphylactic reaction.

Answer 2

The right answer is A massive release of histamine.

Anaphylactic shock is an immediate, severe and generalized allergic reaction that affects the body as a whole. It requires emergency treatment.

Anaphylactic shock may occur, for example, following a bite of a hymenopteran (bee), or if the drug-sensitive individual is injected with this allergen into the blood (eg, penicillin) or if ingests a food to which he is allergic.

In anaphylactic shock, a large number of mast cells and basophilic granulocytes release histamine in different areas of the body. The outcome can be fatal.

The symptoms appear very quickly; they include demonstrations:

Cutaneous: itching, swelling;

Respiratory: bronchioles tighten, breathing is difficult;

Digestive: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain;

Cardiovascular: tachycardia, drop in blood pressure.

* Adrenaline (vasoconstrictor) and a bronchodilator should be used to control these serious effects of histamine.