Which of the following lists the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

Which of the following lists the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

• A. rash, hives, itching, fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, runny nose
• B. Headache only
• C. Nausea only
• D. Cough and sore throat

Answer: (A)

Allergic reactions typically involve multiple body systems, especially skin and airways. The combination of skin signs (rash, hives, itching) with respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, wheezing) and nasal symptoms (runny nose) is characteristic of an allergic response to a medication or allergen. Fever isn’t a defining feature of an allergy and, when present alone, points more toward infection or another issue. Headache or nausea by themselves are nonspecific and not reliable indicators of an allergic reaction, and cough with sore throat can be caused by infections or irritation rather than allergy. So the option listing both skin and airway/nasal symptoms best reflects an allergic reaction pattern. In practice, recognizing this pattern is important because it can progress to more severe reactions, requiring stopping the offending agent and medical escalation per protocol.

Allergic reactions typically involve multiple body systems, especially skin and airways. The combination of skin signs (rash, hives, itching) with respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, wheezing) and nasal symptoms (runny nose) is characteristic of an allergic response to a medication or allergen. Fever isn’t a defining feature of an allergy and, when present alone, points more toward infection or another issue. Headache or nausea by themselves are nonspecific and not reliable indicators of an allergic reaction, and cough with sore throat can be caused by infections or irritation rather than allergy. So the option listing both skin and airway/nasal symptoms best reflects an allergic reaction pattern. In practice, recognizing this pattern is important because it can progress to more severe reactions, requiring stopping the offending agent and medical escalation per protocol.