Final answer:
Morphine can cause anaphylaxis by triggering systemic mast cell degranulation, leading to severe symptoms such as respiratory distress, swelling, and a drastic drop in blood pressure. It is essential for individuals with severe allergies to carry an epinephrine autoinjector for emergency treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur with the administration of various substances, including drugs like morphine. Morphine, an opioid derived from poppies, can trigger a systemic mast cell degranulation when it is introduced into the body. This degranulation leads to a massive release of histamine, which then causes the severe symptoms associated with anaphylaxis.
These symptoms include respiratory distress, swelling of the tongue and throat, plummeting blood pressure (anaphylactic shock), and can result in death if not treated swiftly with epinephrine. Epinephrine is an emergency medication that counteracts these symptoms by raising blood pressure and relaxing bronchial smooth muscle. Individuals with known severe allergies to substances like morphine should always carry an epinephrine autoinjector.