Anaphylaxis and Acute Allergic Reactions - Essay Example

"Anaphylaxis and Acute Allergic Reactions" is a perfect example of a paper on drug therapy.  A 29-year-old woman Jowen lives in semi-urban living conditions. She has a history of sensitivity to allergens such as insect bites, latex, and some food. Joven is experiencing serious upper edema and lower airway edema that causes stridor and wheezing.  She looks agitated, anxious, and appears pale. She has a cardiovascular collapse resulting from increased capillary permeability. She also indicates that she has been vomiting, has diarrhea, and abdominal pains.

The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is based on symptoms occurring within minutes or a few hours after potential triggers such as medication, food, or insect sting. However, other diseases have similar signs and symptoms as anaphylaxis (Peng, 2004). The two priority nursing diagnoses for anaphylaxis are the absence of urticaria and angioedema in vasovagal reactions.

Medication overview- Epinephrine IV

The patient needs emergency treatment for anaphylaxis. Epinephrine IV 1:1,000 which is administered intravenously through a vein. The use of epinephrine IV has contraindications but they are not absolute. Contraindications may occur in Narrow-angle glaucoma, during anesthesia with cyclopropane, individuals with organic brain damage, local anesthesia, during labor, use in cardiac dilation, and coronary insufficiency.  In addition, there are situations where other drugs may be contraindicated such as with vasopressor drugs (Pumphrey, 2000).

Administration of the 1:1,000 solutions, which is 0.01 mg/kg, can be repeated every 15 minutes for two doses followed by every four hours as needed.  Epinephrine IV 1:10,000 (0.1mg/mL) is administered slowly every 15 minutes for three to four doses as needed. The IV route is best to use in emergency cases but the preferred route is subcutaneous.

Some of the side effects of using Epinephrine IV include hypertension, dizziness, headache, restlessness, weakness, and tremor.
Nursing Implications

When giving the injection there are interventions that nurses should consider. For administration, the subcutaneous route is preferred however, nurses should be aware that it results to lower absorption. The nurse should inspect for discoloration when the solution and container permit. The epinephrine IV medication should be stored at 59 degrees to 86 degrees and needs protection from light and freezing. After the initial use, the contents should be used only for 30 days. For effective medication, it is important that the nurses take a full history of a patient. The nurse requires recording the onset of the reaction. There is a need to check that routine medications are given. The laboratory investigations need to review correctly. Entries of the findings, assessment, and treatment should be made (Salamone, 2000).
Patient Education Plan

Anaphylaxis patients need to learn about things that trigger anaphylaxis.  There are foods, venoms, and drugs that trigger anaphylaxis and the patients need to learn about them. The educational goals will be to minimize the rate at which patients visit health centers due to anaphylaxis they can avoid. A patient will be keener when he or she knows what can trigger anaphylaxis to avoid several trips to a hospital. The learning outcomes will be maintaining health amongst individuals thus having a healthy generation.

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