Emergency Response to Reactions Flashcards
7 cards from real APHA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Emergency Response to Reactions flashcards as text
A patient on an ACE inhibitor receives a vaccine and develops anaphylaxis. Why may this patient's response to epinephrine treatment be a clinical concern?
Answer: ACE inhibitors can increase bradykinin levels, potentially worsening angioedema and making anaphylaxis harder to treat
ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin, which can exacerbate angioedema and may make anaphylaxis more severe and less responsive to standard therapy.
Under the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which of the following reactions MUST be reported by healthcare providers?
Answer: Any adverse event listed in the VAERS Table of Reportable Events Following Vaccination
Healthcare providers are required to report any adverse event listed in the VAERS Table of Reportable Events Following Vaccination, regardless of severity.
A patient calls the clinic 6 hours after receiving a Td booster and reports severe swelling and pain involving the entire upper arm. What reaction is most likely?
Answer: Arthus-type reaction due to high pre-existing antibody titers
Severe local swelling involving the entire limb hours after a Td booster in an adult with prior immunization history is characteristic of an Arthus reaction.
Which of the following best describes the role of glucocorticoids in acute anaphylaxis management?
Answer: They are adjunctive agents that may help prevent a biphasic reaction but do not replace epinephrine
Glucocorticoids are adjunctive in anaphylaxis and may reduce the risk of biphasic reactions, but they act too slowly to treat acute anaphylaxis and do not replace epinephrine.
Which action is recommended BEFORE administering a vaccine to a patient who reports a previous 'allergic reaction' to a prior dose?
Answer: Obtain a detailed history to characterize the reaction and consult current ACIP contraindication/precaution guidance
A careful history to characterize the nature, timing, and severity of the prior reaction is essential before determining whether re-vaccination is contraindicated or safe.
After treating post-vaccination anaphylaxis, the provider should document and report the event to which national program specifically designed to collect vaccine safety data?
Answer: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
VAERS is the national passive surveillance system to which healthcare providers and patients report adverse events following vaccination.
A patient who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine develops chest tightness and shortness of breath 8 minutes later. The provider notes no hives, hypotension, or wheezing on exam. What condition should be considered alongside anaphylaxis?
Answer: Immediate anxiety or panic attack mimicking anaphylaxis
Anxiety and panic attacks can mimic anaphylaxis with chest tightness and dyspnea but lack the objective findings of hives, hypotension, or wheezing, making careful clinical differentiation essential.