A panicked and anxious patient tells you that he is allergic to peanuts and thinks he may have accidentally eaten some. He states that the last time he ate peanuts he almost died and needed to have a "tube put in his throat." When assessing the patient, which of the following signs or symptoms would provide the best evidence that the patient is having an allergic, and possibly an anaphylactic, reaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hives on the chest are a classic sign of an allergic reaction, especially when in conjunction with a known history of peanut allergy. Panic and anxiety are common with any medical emergency but are not specific to an allergic reaction. Elevated blood pressure and cool and clammy skin may occur in an anaphylactic reaction but are not as reliable indicators as the presence of hives.

A Panicked and Anxious Patient Tells You That He Is