Chapter 37: Assessment and Management of Patients With Allergic Disorders

When evaluating a client's knowledge about use of antihistamines, what statement indicates further education is required?

"If I am pregnant, I should take half the dose."

A client presents at the clinic with an allergic disorder. The client asks the nurse what an "allergic disorder" means. What would be the nurse's best response?

"It is a hyperimmune response to something in the environment that is usually harmless."

A patient received epinephrine in response to an anaphylactic reaction at 10:00 AM. The nurse knows to observe the patient for a "rebound" reaction that may occur as early as:

2:00 PM.

The nurse is caring for a client experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. The nurse prepares for the maximum intensity of histamine response to occur within which time frame?

5 to 10 minutes

A client presents to the emergency department in anaphylactic shock after a bee sting. What should the nurse do? Select all that apply.

Administer Diphenhydramine. Insert an intravenous line. Have respiratory therapy provide an albuterol treatment.

The nurse is educating a patient with allergic rhinitis about how the condition is induced. What should the nurse include in the education on this topic?

Airborne pollens or molds

A client has been having joint pain and swelling in the left foot and is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms began suddenly without any identifiable cause, and the client has significant joint destruction. What type of disease is this considered?

Autoimmune

A client with a history of allergic rhinitis comes to the clinic for an evaluation. The client is prescribed triamcinolone. What will the nurse include when teaching the client about this drug?

Be aware that some nasal burning and itching may occur.

A client with an allergic disorder calls the nurse and asks what treatment is available for allergic disorders. The nurse explains to the client that there is more than one treatment available. What treatments would the nurse tell the client about?

Desensitization

The nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has an affinity for H1 receptors. Which medication would the nurse administer?

Diphenhydramine

A client calls the clinic and asks the nurse if using oxymetazoline nasal spray would be alright to relieve the nasal congestion he is experiencing due to seasonal allergies. What instructions should the nurse provide to the client to avoid complications?

Do not overuse the medication as rebound congestion can occur.

When assessing the skin of a client with allergic contact dermatitis, the nurse would most likely expect to find irritation at which area?

Dorsal aspect of the hand

A patient is experiencing an allergic reaction to a dose of penicillin. What should the nurse look for in the patient's initial assessment?

Dyspnea, bronchospasm, and/or laryngeal edema.

A client with lupus has had antineoplastic drugs prescribed. Why would the physician prescribe antineoplastic drugs for an autoimmune disorder?

For their immunosuppressant effects

Which term refers to an incomplete antigen?

Hapten

The nurse is evaluating a client's complete blood cell count and differential along with the serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration. Which result might indicate that the client has an allergic disorder?

High IgE concentration

Which body substance causes increased gastric secretion, dilation of capillaries, and constriction of the bronchial smooth muscle?

Histamine

The nurse is teaching a group of health care workers about latex allergies. What reaction will the nurse teach the workers to be most concerned about with laryngeal edema?

IgE-mediated hypersensitivity

The nurse working in an allergy clinic is preparing to administer skin testing to a client. Which route is the safest for the nurse to use to administer the solution?

Intradermal

After teaching a client how to self-administer epinephrine, the nurse determines that the teaching plan has been successful when the client demonstrates which action?

Jabs the autoinjector into the outer thigh at a 90-degree angle

A client is prescribed montelukast as part of a treatment plan for an allergic disorder. The nurse understands that this drug belongs to which class?

Leukotriene-receptor antagonist

Which chemical mediators initiate and mediate the inflammatory response?

Leukotrienes

What education should the nurse provide to the patient taking long-term corticosteroids?

The patient should not stop taking the medication abruptly and should be weaned off of the medication.

The parents of a child with contact dermatitis are asking questions about the reaction within the immune system. What description regarding contact dermatitis as a type IV hypersensitivity reaction is accurate?

a delayed-type hypersensitivity that is mediated by T cells

A client is prescribed an oral corticosteroid for 2 weeks to relieve asthma symptoms. The nurse educates the client about side effects, which include

adrenal suppression.

Which allergic reaction is potentially life threatening?

angioedema

A nurse is working in a dermatology clinic with clients who have allergies. What is the most important chemical mediator involved in the allergic response?

histamine

A client comes to the emergency department complaining of difficulty breathing and feeling strange after eating a shrimp cocktail. The client is leaning forward with a respiratory rate of 36 breaths per minute. The nurse suspects anaphylaxis. What is the nurse's priority action?

maintaining an open airway

The nurse is teaching a client about histamine release during an anaphylactic reaction. What does histamine release in anaphylaxis cause?

nasal congestion

The nurse is teaching a client about contact dermatitis. What type of contact dermatitis requires light exposure in addition to allergen contact?

photoallergic

The nurse is teaching a client about allergic rhinitis and its triggers. What is the most common trigger for the respiratory allergic response?

plant pollen

A client is presenting an anaphylactic response to unknowingly ingesting nuts at a family celebration. What type of hypersensitivity did this client exhibit?

type I

A nurse comes to the employee health center for evaluation and is diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis related to latex. What manifestation would the nurse most likely exhibit?

Blistering

A client is experiencing an acute hemolytic reaction. What actions should the nurse take? Select all that apply.

Check for low back pain. Assess for anxiety and mental status changes. Notify the health care provider.

Which of the following is the most frequent route of exposure to a latex allergy?

Cutaneous

A patient with a history of allergies comes to the clinic for an evaluation. The following laboratory test findings are recorded in a patient's medical record:Total serum IgE levels: 2.8 mg/mL White blood cell count: 5,100/cu mmEosinophil count: 4%Erythrocyte sedimentation rate: 20 mm/h The nurse identifies which result as suggesting an allergic reaction?

Serum IgE level

Which statement describes the clinical manifestations of a delayed hypersensitivity (type IV) allergic reaction to latex?

They are localized to the area of exposure, usually the back of the hands.

T-cell deficiency occurs when which gland fails to develop normally during embryogenesis?

Thymus

A nurse is preparing a discharge teaching plan for a client with atopic dermatitis. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan?

Use a topical skin moisturizer daily.

The nurse is teaching a client newly diagnosed with a peanut allergy about how to manage the allergy. What information should be included in the teaching? Select all that apply.

Wear a medic alert bracelet. List symptoms of peanut allergy. Identify ways to manage allergy while dining out. Carry EpiPen autoinjector at all times.

The nurse explains to a client that immunotherapy initially starts with injections at which interval?

Weekly

The nurse knows the best strategy for latex allergy is

avoidance of latex-based products.

The nurse is teaching a client after a medication allergic reaction has occurred. What is the most important action for the nurse to teach the client to take to prevent anaphylaxis?

Avoid potential allergens.

While interviewing a client with an allergic disorder, the client tells the nurse about an allergy to animal dander. The nurse knows that animal dander is what type of substance?

Complete protein antigen

A client with allergic rhinitis is prescribed a mast cell stabilizer. Which would the nurse expect to be used?

Cromolyn sodium

A client with a history of anaphylactic reactions to insect stings has just been stung by a wasp. Place the steps in the correct order that the client will follow for self-administration of an EpiPen. Use all options.

Remove the gray safety-release cap Inject the black tip into the outer thigh Massage the injection area Call the emergency medical response number (911)

Maximum intensity of histamine occurs within which time frame following antigen contact?

15 minutes

The nurse tells the client that if exposure to an allergen occurs around 8:00 AM, then the client should expect a mild or moderate reaction by what time?

10:00 AM

In its attempt to suppress allergic responses, the body releases several chemicals which have a role in mediating physical reactions. Epinephrine, which interferes with vasoactive chemical release from mast cells, is instrumental in suppressing which type of hypersensitivity response?

type I

A nurse is reviewing the dietary history of a client who has experienced anaphylaxis. What would the nurse identify as a common cause of anaphylaxis? Select all that apply.

Milk Eggs Shrimp

A client has had a "stuffy nose" and obtained an oxymetazoline nasal spray. What education should the nurse provide to the client in order to prevent "rebound congestion"?

Only use the nasal spray for 3 to 4 days once every 12 hours.

What is the most common cause of anaphylaxis?

Penicillin

Which intervention is the single most important aspect for the client at risk for anaphylaxis?

Prevention

A client reports to a health care provider's office for intradermal allergy testing. Before testing, the nurse provides client teaching. Which client statement indicates a need for further education?

"If I notice tingling in my lips or mouth, gargling may help the symptoms."

A client is receiving immunotherapy as part of the treatment plan for an allergic disorder. After administering the therapy, the client states, "I guess I can go home now." Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

"You need to stay about another half-hour so we can make sure you don't have a reaction."

An infant is born to a mother who had no prenatal care during her pregnancy. What type of hypersensitivity reaction does the nurse understand may have occurred?

Rh-hemolytic disease

The clinic nurse is caring for a client with an allergic disorder who has received the first sensitizing dose of a new drug. Now, the client is given a second dose. What nursing action is most important at this stage of transition?

Monitor the client for reactions.

Which statement would alert the nurse to suspect a client is experiencing a mild anaphylactic reaction?

"My throat feels like it's full."

After receiving a dose of penicillin, a client develops dyspnea and hypotension and the nurse suspects the client is experiencing anaphylactic shock. What is the nurse's first action?

Administer epinephrine, as ordered.