PharmacologyQuestion 73 of 100
Minutes after receiving an injection, a patient develops hives, swelling of the lips, wheezing, and light-headedness. What should the medical assistant do first?
a.Stay with the patient, call for the provider and emergency help immediately, and prepare to assist with epinephrine per protocol
b.Give the patient a glass of water and observe for 30 minutes
c.Document the reaction and schedule a follow-up visit for next week
d.Apply a cold pack to the injection site and send the patient home
Explanation
Hives, lip swelling, wheezing, and dizziness after an injection suggest anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate help and rapid epinephrine administration under the provider's protocol. Water, a cold pack, or a routine follow-up delay definitive treatment while the airway is closing. Documentation is essential but happens after the patient is stabilized.
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