EO is an 8-year-old girl with a history of asthma and allergy to bee stings. She has been brought to the clinic complaining of a throat infection. Her health care provider prescribes a course of penicillin to manage her current infection and cautions her parents to watch her closely for a reaction.
- What type of reaction is the health care provider concerned about, and why?
- Explain the role of IgE and mast cells in type I hypersensitivity reactions. Why might EO react adversely to the antibiotic with the first use?
- What would you tell EO's parents to look for when they are assessing for a reaction?