Question

An 8-year-old child being treated in the emergency department has significant respiratory distress. The child also exhibits hives, wheezing, angioedema, tachycardia and dyspnea. The parents state that the child, who is allergic to peanuts, had eaten some popcorn that had peanuts in it. The team initiates care, preparing to administer which agent first?

Select the correct answer to this question.
A. Methylprednisolone
B. Epinephrine
C. Diphenhydramine
D. Phenylephrine

Answer 1

Epinephrine is the first-line treatment in cases of anaphylaxis like the one described for the child having a severe allergic reaction to peanuts, and it should be administered first to address the life-threatening symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question of which agent should be administered first to an 8-year-old child experiencing significant respiratory distress and other symptoms of anaphylaxis after ingesting peanuts is B. Epinephrine. Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur rapidly. The symptoms described, such as hives, wheezing, angioedema, tachycardia, and dyspnea are indicative of anaphylaxis. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylactic reactions. It works by constricting blood vessels to increase blood pressure, relaxing the muscles in the lungs to improve breathing, and modulating heart rate to counteract the effects of anaphylaxis. Options A (Methylprednisolone), C (Diphenhydramine), and D (Phenylephrine) may be used as adjunct therapies after initial epinephrine administration, but in a case of anaphylaxis, the immediate priority is to use epinephrine to quickly address the life-threatening aspects of the reaction.