A patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia has IV antibiotics ordered.He receives the first dose with no problem,but during the second dose,he begins to complain of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.The nurse notes wheezes throughout the lung fields.The nurse documents these symptoms as which of the following?

A) Idiosyncratic reaction
B) Toxic effect of the antibiotic
C) Side effect of the medication
D) Anaphylactic reaction

Question

Declan Burke · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  An allergic reaction ranges from mild to severe,depending on the patient and the medication.Among the different classes of medications,antibiotics cause a high incidence of allergic reactions.Sudden constriction of bronchiolar muscles,edema of the pharynx and larynx,severe wheezing,and shortness of breath are characteristic of severe or anaphylactic reactions.Some patients become severely hypotensive,necessitating emergency resuscitation measures.Anaphylaxis is potentially fatal.Medications often cause unpredictable effects,such as an idiosyncratic reaction,in which a patient overreacts or underreacts to a medication or has a reaction that is different from normal.However,the symptoms displayed by this patient are classic anaphylactic symptoms.Toxic effects develop after prolonged intake of a medication,when a medication accumulates in the blood because of impaired metabolism or excretion,or when too high a dose is given.Two doses of a medication usually are not enough to develop toxic effects.Side effects are predictable and often unavoidable secondary effects produced at a usual therapeutic drug dose.Anaphylaxis is usually unpredictable initially and is avoided after the first reaction by listing the cause of the anaphylaxis in the allergy alert section of the patient record.

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