You have been summoned to an apartment for a 58-year-old female complaining of hives on her chest and abdomen. When asked, she states that she has had several episodes of the hives over the past six months, but allergy testing has not been able to pinpoint a cause. Based on this information, which one of the following would best classify the cause of the reaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Idiopathic means that the cause of the hives is unknown, which is consistent with the patient's description of allergy testing being unable to identify a specific cause. Iatrogenic refers to a reaction caused by medical treatment, which does not apply in this case. Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions typically involve a more severe and immediate onset of symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the throat, which are not mentioned in the patient's description.

You Have Been Summoned to an Apartment for a 58-Year-Old