EMT Chapter 20 - Immunologic Emergencies

Common side effects of epinephrine include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. drowsiness. B. tachycardia. C. headache. D. dizziness.

A

Epinephrine is indicated for patients with an allergic reaction when: A. wheezing and hypotension are present. B. the patient is anxious and tachycardic. C. a paramedic is present at the scene. D. the reaction produces severe urticaria.

A

Immediately after giving an epinephrine injection, you should: A. properly dispose of the syringe. B. record the time and dose given. C. reassess the patient's vital signs. D. notify medical control of your action.

A

The adult epinephrine auto-injector delivers ______ mg of epinephrine, and the infant-child auto-injector delivers ______ mg. A. 0.3; 0.15 B. 0.1; 0.01 C. 0.03; 0.3 D. 0.01; 0.1

A

A 19-year-old female was stung multiple times on the legs by fire ants. She states that she is allergic to fire ants, but does not carry her own epinephrine. The patient is conscious and alert and complains of pain to the area of the bites. Her blood pressure is 122/70 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and strong, and her respirations are 18 breaths/min and unlabored. You should: A. administer oxygen and transport her to the hospital. B. position her legs well above the level of her heart. C. advise her to see her physician as soon as possible. D. request a paramedic unit to administer epinephrine.

A

Anaphylaxis is MOST accurately defined as a(n): A. extreme allergic reaction that may affect multiple body systems. B. severe allergic reaction that typically resolves without treatment. C. moderate allergic reaction that primarily affects the vasculature. D. allergic reaction that causes bronchodilation and vasoconstriction.

A

Anaphylaxis is not always life threatening, but it typically involves: A. multiple organ systems B. wheezing C. urticaria D. wheals

A

You should not use tweezers or forceps to remove an embedded stinger because: A. squeezing may cause the stinger to inject more venom into the wound B. the stinger may break off in the wound C. the tweezers are not sterile and may cause infection D. removing the stinger may cause bleeding

A

Epinephrine stimulates the ________ response, increasing blood pressure and relieving bronchospasm. A. respiratory B. sympathetic C. parasympathetic D. cardiac

B

The foreign substance responsible for causing an allergic reaction is called a(n): A. antibody. B. allergen. C. leukotriene. D. histamine.

B

The stinger from a honeybee should be: A. left in place and covered B. scraped away from the skin. C. irrigated with copious amounts of water. D. squeezed with tweezers and removed.

B

Urticaria is the medical term for: A. swelling. B. hives. C. a wheal. D. burning.

B

When administering epinephrine via auto-injector, you should hold the injector in place for: A. 5 seconds. B. 10 seconds. C. 15 seconds. D. 20 seconds.

B

When an allergic reaction proceeds to life-threatening anaphylaxis, it will usually do so __________. A. quickly, within 30 seconds. B. quickly, within 30 minutes. C. slowly, over more than 30 minutes. D. slowly, over several hours.

B

Which of the following physiologic actions does epinephrine produce when given for an allergic reaction? A. bronchodilation and vasodilation B. vasoconstriction and bronchodilation C. bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction D. blocking of further histamine release

B

After administering 0.3 mg of epinephrine via auto-injector to a 22-year-old female with an allergic reaction, you note improvement in her breathing and resolution of her hives. However, she is still anxious and tachycardic. You should: A. contact medical control and obtain authorization to administer another 0.3 mg of epinephrine. B. transport her rapidly, as it is obvious that she is having a severe reaction to the epinephrine. C. monitor her closely but recall that anxiety and tachycardia are side effects of epinephrine. D. consider administering 0.15 mg of epinephrine to completely resolve her allergic reaction.

C

After administering 0.3 mg of epinephrine via auto-injector to a 22-year-old woman with an allergic reaction, you note improvement in her breathing and dissipation of her hives. However, she is still anxious and tachycardic. You should: A. transport her rapidly, as it is obvious that she is having a severe reaction to the epinephrine. B. contact medical control and obtain authorization to administer another 0.3 mg of epinephrine. C. monitor her closely but recall that anxiety and tachycardia are side effects of epinephrine. D. consider administering 0.15 mg of epinephrine to completely resolve her allergic reaction.

C

At the site of the injury, signs and symptoms of an animal or insect bite or sting may include pain, localized heat, and a wheal, which appears as __________. A. an uncomfortable depression in the skin B. a series of small, raised pustules C. a raised, well-defined area of the skin D. a large area of red, blotchy skin

C

The goal of invaders such as bacteria and viruses is to __________. A. cause an immune response B. spread disease and destruction C. use a human body as a home D. kill their human host

C

Which of the following negative effects of anaphylaxis will be the MOST rapidly fatal if not treated immediately? A. diffuse urticaria B. severe hypotension C. upper airway swelling D. systemic vasodilation

C

Which of the following patients would MOST likely have a delayed onset of an allergic reaction? A. a 21-year-old female who inhaled pollen B. a 30-year-old male who was stung by a bee C. a 45-year-old male who ingested penicillin D. a 50-year-old male who was exposed to latex

C

Which of the following signs/symptoms are indicative of respiratory involvement of an allergic reaction? A. Flushed, itching, or burning skin B. A sense of impending doom C. Tightness in the chest or throat D. All of these answers are correct.

C

Which of the following sounds indicates swelling of the upper airway? A. Rales B. Rhonchi C. Stridor D. Wheezing

C

Which of the following statements regarding epinephrine administration via the intramuscular (IM) route is correct? A. The maximum single adult dose is 0.15 mg. B. The IM route should not be used in children. C. The 1:1000 concentration should be used. D. The preferred injection site is the upper arm.

C

Which of the following would MOST likely provide clues regarding the source of a patient's allergic reaction? A. The time of year in which the exposure occurred B. The patient's family history C. The environment in which the patient is found D. The patient's general physical appearance

C

You have administered one dose of epinephrine to a 40-year-old female to treat an allergic reaction that she developed after being stung by a scorpion. Your reassessment reveals that she is still having difficulty breathing, has a decreasing mental status, and has a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg. You should: A. monitor her en route to the hospital and call medical control if she worsens. B. crush up an antihistamine tablet and place it in between her cheek and gum. C. request permission from medical control to give another dose of epinephrine. D. administer a nebulized bronchodilator to improve the status of her breathing.

C

A 37-year-old male is having a severe allergic reaction to penicillin. He does not have an epinephrine auto-injector and your protocols do not allow you to carry epinephrine on the ambulance. How should you proceed with the treatment of this patient? A. Quickly determine if there are any bystanders who may carry epinephrine. B. Remain at the scene with the patient and request a paramedic ambulance. C. Ask the patient if he has any diphenhydramine tablets that you can administer. D. Administer oxygen, transport at once, and request a paramedic intercept.

D

A raised, swollen, well-defined area on the skin that is the result of an insect bite or sting is called: A. a pustule. B. purpura. C. urticaria. D. a wheal.

D

Because the stinger of a honeybee remains in the wound following a sting: A. the stinger can easily be removed with tweezers. B. the body's immune system deactivates the venom. C. the toxicity of the venom decreases within 10 minutes. D. it can continue to inject venom for up to 20 minutes

D

Care for a victim of an immunologic emergency who is severely hypotensive should include which of the following? A. Routine spinal immobilization due to the potential for traumatic injury B. Initiate basic life support measures, including the use of an automated external defibrillator, if necessary. C. Position the patient's airway and initiate positive-pressure ventilations. D. Apply high-flow oxygen therapy, place the patient in a shock position, and help maintain the patient's body temperature.

D

Epinephrine, whether made by the body or by a drug manufacturer, works rapidly to: A. raise the pulse rate and blood pressure B. inhibit an allergic reaction C. relieve bronchospasm D. all of the above

D

The effects of epinephrine are typically observed within _________ following administration. A. 1 hour B. 30 seconds C. 30 minutes D. 1 minute

D

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-year-old son who is wheezing and having difficulty breathing. She informs you that he inadvertently ate a brownie with nuts, and he is allergic to nuts. The child's mother has an EpiPen that contains the appropriate dose of epinephrine for a child. What dose would that be? A. 0.8 mg B. 0.5 mg C. 0.4 mg D. 0.15 mg

D