An awake but confused patient experiencing an allergic reaction begins to exhibit stridorous respirations. The EMT knows that the underlying condition responsible for this presentation is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stridorous respirations are caused by a partial obstruction of the upper airway. In this case, the allergic reaction has caused swelling in the upper airway, leading to the characteristic high-pitched sound during breathing. Constriction of the small airways (A) and spasm of the lower airway (B) would not cause stridor. Loss of the gag reflex (D) may be a concern in managing the airway, but it is not the underlying cause of the stridorous respirations.

An Awake but Confused Patient Experiencing an Allergic Reaction Begins