Which presentation is most consistent with anaphylaxis?

• A. Flushed skin, hives, generalized edema, and stridor.
• B. Fever and productive cough.
• C. Unilateral chest pain.
• D. Chronic fatigue.

Answer: (A)

Anaphylaxis presents as a rapid, systemic allergic reaction that often involves the skin and the airway. The best answer shows flushed skin and hives with generalized swelling (angioedema) and, importantly, stridor indicating upper airway edema. This combination signals a multi-system reaction with airway involvement, which is the hallmark of anaphylaxis and requires urgent attention.

Fever with productive cough points toward an infection such as pneumonia or bronchitis, not a sudden allergic reaction. Unilateral chest pain suggests a localized issue like pneumothorax or cardiac causes, not a systemic allergic response. Chronic fatigue is vague and not an acute, airway-focused emergency.