Allergic reactions are relatively common. They may range from minor reactions to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.
Clinical features of mild to moderate allergic reactions:
(1) absence of fever (afebrile)
(2) one or more of the findings in the table below
(3) reduction in symptoms after therapy with an allergy medications
System
Finding
skin
urticaria, pruritic rash, flushing, angioedema
respiratory
cough, wheezing, stridor, dyspnea, chest tightness, chest pain, hoarseness
gastrointestinal tract
nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea
circulatory
tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias
where:
• A patient may experience more than one type of transfusion reaction at one time (mixed reaction).
Differential diagnosis:
(1) allergic reaction to a concurrent medication
(2) allergic reaction to a chemical used to sterilize tubing
(3) anaphylaxis
(4) febrile transfusion reaction
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory