Recognizing Patient Allergies Allergies can be very strange and unpredictable. You never know what someone may be allergic to. Medications and substances such as contrast dye can be very serious, and patients should be monitored closely when receiving something new or different. Bee Stings This is a fairly common allergy, and many patients carry an antidote on them when out and exposed. In most cases, a bee sting hurts for a few hours and then gets better. If you’re allergic, you may have a serious reaction. Some people get severe swelling at the site of the sting. A few have lifethreatening symptoms, even if they've never before had an allergic reaction to a bee sting. The riskiest symptoms to watch for are: • • • • • •
Itching, hives, or swelling over a large part of your body -- not just where you got stung Face, throat or tongue starts to swell Trouble breathing Dizziness Stomach cramps Nausea or diarrhea Related: Why You Shouldn't Let Someone Copy Your Nursing Notes If you have these symptoms, use an epinephrine shot, if you carry them with you always have two on hand. Then call 911 immediately. You still need to go to the hospital, even if the shot seemed to work. Use the epinephrine auto-injector if you have any symptoms of anaphylaxis. Even if it turns out to be something else, using the medicine as a precaution won’t harm you. Food Allergies If you have a food allergy, your immune system overreacts to a particular protein found in that food. Symptoms can occur when coming in contact with just a tiny amount of the food. Many food allergies are first diagnosed in young children, though they may also appear in older children and adults. Common foods that are responsible for the majority of allergic reactions : • Cow’s milk • Eggs
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Fish Peanuts Shellfish Soy Tree nuts Wheat
Many people who think they are allergic to a food may have intolerance to it. Some of the symptoms of food intolerance and food allergy are similar, but the differences between the two are very important. If you are allergic to a food, this allergen triggers a response in the immune system. Food allergy reactions can be life-threatening, so people with this type of allergy must be very careful to avoid their food triggers. Food allergy can strike children and adults alike. While many children outgrow a food allergy, it is also possible for adults to develop allergies to particular foods. Eosinophilic) is an allergic condition causing inflammation of the esophagus. Most research suggests that the leading cause of EoE is an allergy or a sensitivity to particular proteins found in foods. Many people with EoE have a family history of allergic disorders such as asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis or food allergy. Related: How to Make Your Patients feel more Comfortable Medication Allergies Everyone reacts to medications differently. One person may develop a rash while taking a certain medication, while another person on the same drug may have no adverse reaction. All medications have the potential to cause side effects, but only about 5 to 10% of adverse reactions to drugs are allergic. Whether allergic or not, reactions to medications can range from mild to life-threatening. Allergic Reactions Allergy symptoms are the result of a chain reaction that starts in the immune system. The body’s immune system controls how your body defends itself. For instance, if you have an allergy to a particular medication, your immune system identifies that drug as an invader or allergen. The most common immune response to a drug is due to the expansion of T cells. a delayed immune response that most often affects the skin, causing itchy rashes, and occurs days to weeks after exposure to the drug. Most allergic reactions occur within hours to two weeks after taking the medication and most people react to medications to which they have been exposed in the past. This process is called "sensitization." However, rashes may develop up
to six weeks after starting certain types of medications. The most severe form of immediate allergic reactions is anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include hives, facial or throat swelling, wheezing, lightheadedness, vomiting and shock. Most anaphylactic reactions occur within one hour of taking a medication or receiving an injection of the medication, but sometimes the reaction may start several hours later. Anaphylaxis can result in death, so it is important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms. Antibiotics are the most common culprit of anaphylaxis, but more recently, chemotherapy drugs have been known to produce allergies as well. The most severe form of delayed drug reactions not only cause rashes but may also involve other organs including the liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart. This is extremely dangerous and delayed treatment can result in death. Related: List of nursing organizations Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Twitter