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
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory