S10 · Reaction to medicine or allergen
Risk ⚠ URGENT Safety and protection
Definition
The person may react to a medicine, food, latex, or other trigger.- Previous allergy
- new medicine
- latex
- food
- contrast dye
- Rash
- itching
- swelling of face or lips
- wheeze
- low blood pressure
📋 Scenario
A patient with a known penicillin allergy is prescribed an antibiotic.
Subjective (S): "I'm allergic to penicillin, I hope that's on my chart."
Objective (O): Penicillin allergy recorded; new antibiotic prescribed; no rash; observations normal.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-SAFE Safety & Falls Score
Validated scales to consider: Morse Fall Scale
**CarePath diagnosis:** Reaction to medicine or allergen related to previous allergy and new medicine (risk factors); no signs of the problem are present yet.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Check allergies before every drug. | Checking allergy records before each drug prevents giving a medicine the patient is known to react to. |
| Use an allergy band. | An allergy band alerts all staff to the allergy, even if the chart is missed or the patient cannot speak. |
| Observe after new medicines. | Most reactions happen soon after a new medicine, so close watching spots rash, swelling or breathing change early. |
| Stop the drug and call for help if symptoms appear. | Stopping the drug removes the trigger, and calling for help brings fast treatment for a reaction that can become life-threatening. |
| Give emergency treatment as ordered. | Emergency treatments such as adrenaline act quickly against severe allergic reactions, so they are given as ordered without delay. |
**Expected outcomes**
- No allergic reaction.
- Allergy band and chart alert in place.
- Alternative drug used if needed.
- Patient states allergy and reaction signs.
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
The patient has a recorded penicillin allergy, has been prescribed a new antibiotic, and says they hope the allergy is on the chart. There is no rash and observations are normal, so no reaction has occurred and this is a risk diagnosis resting on the previous allergy and new medicine. If any sign appears, the drug is stopped and help is called first. The plan aims for no allergic reaction, an allergy band and chart alert in place, an alternative drug used if needed, and the patient stating the allergy and reaction signs.
CarePath diagnosis
Reaction to medicine or allergen related to previous allergy and new medicine (risk factors); no signs of the problem are present yet.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order — for urgent statements the first action is to get help.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Check allergies before every drug. | Checking allergy records before each drug prevents giving a medicine the patient is known to react to. |
| 2. Use an allergy band. | An allergy band alerts all staff to the allergy, even if the chart is missed or the patient cannot speak. |
| 3. Observe after new medicines. | Most reactions happen soon after a new medicine, so close watching spots rash, swelling or breathing change early. |
| 4. Stop the drug and call for help if symptoms appear. | Stopping the drug removes the trigger, and calling for help brings fast treatment for a reaction that can become life-threatening. |
| 5. Give emergency treatment as ordered. | Emergency treatments such as adrenaline act quickly against severe allergic reactions, so they are given as ordered without delay. |
Expected outcomes
- No allergic reaction.
- Allergy band and chart alert in place.
- Alternative drug used if needed.
- Patient states allergy and reaction signs.
Linking the data to the diagnosis
The patient has a recorded penicillin allergy, has been prescribed a new antibiotic, and says they hope the allergy is on the chart. There is no rash and observations are normal, so no reaction has occurred and this is a risk diagnosis resting on the previous allergy and new medicine. If any sign appears, the drug is stopped and help is called first. The plan aims for no allergic reaction, an allergy band and chart alert in place, an alternative drug used if needed, and the patient stating the allergy and reaction signs.