Chapter 18

The child's mother has an EpiPen that contains the appropriate dose of epinephrine for a child. What dose would that be?

0.15mg

The dosage of epinephrine in an adult EpiPen is _____________.

0.30mg

When assisting with an auto-injector, how long should you hold the pen against the thigh?

10 seconds

Because the stinger of the honeybee is barbed and remains in the wound, it can continue to inject venom for up to _______________.

20 minutes.

Toxin

A poison or harmful substance

In dealing with allergy-related emergencies, you must be aware of the possibility of acute _______________ and cardiovascular collapse.

Airway obstruction

Substances that cause an allergic reaction

Allergens

Allergic Reaction

An exaggerated immune response to any substance

A reaction involving the entire body is called _________________.

Anaphylaxis

An extreme, life-threatening systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure

Anaphylaxis

After assisting with an EpiPen

Apply high-flow oxygen, take vital signs and place the used EpiPen in a biohazard container.

As you begin to asses a patient suspected of anaphylactic shock, which of these steps would be done first?

Assist with an EpiPen

Epinephrine inhibits the allergic reaction by constricting the __________ ___________.

Blood vessels

Wheezing occurs because excessive fluid and mucus are secreted into the _____________ _____________.

Bronchial passages

Speed is essential because in severe cases of anaphylaxis, ______________ can occur rapidly,

Death

The act of injecting venom.

Envenomation

A substance produced by the body (aka adrenaline) and a drug produced by pharmaceutical companies that increases pulse rate and blood pressure.

Epinephrine

T/F: For a patient appearing to have an allergic reaction, give 100% oxygen via nasal cannula

False

T/F: Wheezing is a high-pithed breath sound, usually resulting from blockage of the airway, and it heard on expiration.

False

Wheezing occurs because excessive _______________ and mucus are secreted into the bronchial passages.

Fluid

Allergens may include

Food, animal bites and semen

Stridor

Harsh, high-pitched inspiratory sound, usually resulting from upper airway obstruction

Wheezing

High-pitched, whistling breath sound usually resulting from blockage of the airway and typically heard on expiration

You have been called to a park where a local church is holding a potluck dinner. As you exit your ambulance, a woman approaches you holding her 7 y/o son who is wheezing and having difficulty breathing. She informs you that he had inadvertently eaten a brownie with nuts and he is allergic to nuts. Why is the patient wheezing?

His bronchioles are constricting

Substances released by the immune system that are responsible for many of the symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as vasodilation

Histamines

The presence of ________________ or respiratory distress indicates that the patient is having a severe enough allergic reaction to lead to death.

Hypoperfusion

Your ability to recognize and manage the many signs and symptoms of allergic reactions may be the only thing standing between a patient and _______________ ______________.

Imminent death

The ___________ system includes all of the structures and processes designed to mount a defense against foreign substances and disease-causing agents.

Immune

The body's response to substances perceived by the body as foreign.

Immune Response

The study of the body's immune system.

Immunology

Chemical substances that contribute to anaphylaxis

Leukotrienes

What does the "M" stand for in SAMPLE?

Medications- what medications is the patient currently taking?

Anaphylaxis is not always life threatening, but it typically involves:

Multiple organ systems

Urtucarua

Multiple raised areas on the skin that itch and burn

What does the "P" stand for in SAMPLE?

Past pertinent history

Epinephrine, whether made by the body or by a drug manufacturer, works rapidly to:

Raise the pulse rate and blood pressure, inhibit an allergic reaction and relieve bronchospasm

Wheal

Raised, swollen area on the skin resulting from an insect bite or allergic reaction

After removing the auto-injector from the child's thigh, you should:

Record the time, the dose and reassess his vital signs

When using the Twinject auto-injector:

Remove the safety cap, wipe the thigh with antiseptic and push the autoinjector firmly against the thigh for about 10 seconds.

Your assessment of the patient experiencing an allergic reaction should include evaluations of the:

Respiratory system, circulatory system and the skin

Eating certain foods, such as shellfish or nuts, may result in a relatively __________ reaction that still can be quite severe.

Slow

You should not use tweezers or forceps to removed an embedded stinger because:

Squeezing may cause the stinger to inject more venom into the wound

A harsh, high-pitched respiratory sounds, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway.

Stridor

Leukotrienes

Substance made by body; released in anaphylaxis

Allergen

Substance that causes an allergic reaction

Signs and Symptoms of insect stings or bites include:

Swelling, wheals and localized heat

Prolonged respiratory difficulty can cause _____________, shock and even death

Tachycardia

Steps for assisting a patient with administration of an EpiPen include:

Taking body substance isolation precautions

A poison or harmful substance

Toxin

T/F: Allergic reations can occur in response to almost any substance.

True

T/F: An allergic reaction occurs when the body has an immune response to a substance

True

You have been called to a park where a local church is holding a potluck dinner. As you exit your ambulance, a woman approaches you holding her 7 y/o son who is wheezing and having difficulty breathing. She informs you that he had inadvertently eaten a brownie with nuts and he is allergic to nuts. You lift the child's shirt and find small, raised areas that he is trying to scratch. They are likely to be:

Uritcaria

Small areas of generalized itching or burning that appear as multiple, small, raised areas on the skin are called ____________.

Urticaria

Small spots of generalized itching and/or burning that appear as multiple raised areas on the skin.

Urticaria

A raised, swollen, well-defined area on the skin resulting from an insect bite or allergic reaction.

Wheal

Questions to ask when obtaining a history from a patient appearing to have an allergic reaction include:

Whether the patient has a history of allergies, what the patient was exposed to and how the patient was exposed.

The stinger of the honeybee is ___________, so the beed cannot withdraw it.

barbed