What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to intravenous infusion?

Infusion allergy is an abnormal immune response of the body to components in intravenous fluids, with diverse symptoms including skin reactions, respiratory symptoms, circulatory manifestations, gastrointestinal discomfort, and neurological abnormalities. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Skin reactions: These are the most common symptoms of infusion allergy, typically manifesting as skin itching, erythema, and papules. Some patients may develop wheals or urticaria with irregular shapes, which can be scattered or coalesce into larger patches. In severe cases, skin blisters, ulceration, or congestion and swelling of the skin and mucous membranes (such as eyelid or lip swelling) may occur.

2. Respiratory symptoms: Allergic reactions may affect the respiratory tract, causing symptoms resembling a cold, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. As the reaction worsens, symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, throat tightness, and hoarseness may appear. Severe cases can lead to difficulty breathing, laryngeal edema, and even risk of suffocation.

3. Circulatory manifestations: Allergic reactions may impair circulation, leading to pallor, cold and clammy extremities, cold sweats, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, or arrhythmia. Some individuals may experience dizziness or palpitations. In severe cases, this can progress to anaphylactic shock, characterized by apathy, weak pulse, and other signs of circulatory collapse.

4. Gastrointestinal discomfort: The gastrointestinal mucosa may be irritated by the allergic reaction, resulting in nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Vomit usually consists of gastric contents, and diarrhea often presents as watery stools. Some patients may also have bloating and loss of appetite; symptom severity generally correlates with the degree of allergic reaction.

5. Neurological abnormalities: Systemic disturbances caused by allergic reactions can affect the nervous system, leading to dizziness, headache, restlessness, and agitation. In severe cases, confusion, drowsiness, seizures, or coma may occur, requiring immediate cessation of infusion and emergency intervention.

During intravenous infusion, patients should closely monitor their condition. If any of the above symptoms occur, medical staff should be notified immediately to stop the infusion. When seeking medical care, individuals should proactively disclose their allergy history to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.