Question

A patient who has allergic rhinitis comes to the clinic for a scheduled allergy test. After performing a health history, the nurse informs the patient that the allergy test will have to be rescheduled. What may be the reason for this?

A. The patient is being treated with antihistamine drugs.
B. The patient has severe symptoms of rhinitis.
C. The patient is being treated with oral antibiotic drugs.
D. The patient is afraid of injections.

Answer 1

A. The patient is being treated with antihistamine drugs.

The reason for rescheduling the allergy test in this scenario is most likely because the patient is being treated with antihistamine drugs. Antihistamines can interfere with the accuracy of allergy testing by reducing or blocking the allergic response. These medications work by blocking the action of histamine, which is released during an allergic reaction. By taking antihistamines, the patient's allergic symptoms are suppressed, making it difficult to accurately assess their specific allergens through testing.

It is important to reschedule the allergy test to ensure that the patient has discontinued the use of antihistamines for a specific period of time before the test. This allows the body's natural allergic response to occur and enables accurate identification of allergens. The specific duration of discontinuation may vary depending on the type of antihistamine used, so the healthcare provider will provide guidance on when to stop taking the medication prior to the rescheduled test.

Severe symptoms of rhinitis, treatment with oral antibiotics, or fear of injections would not typically be reasons to reschedule an allergy test unless they directly impact the patient's ability to undergo the procedure or affect the accuracy of the test. In this case, the use of antihistamines is the most likely reason for rescheduling the test.

Step-by-step explanation: