Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Which of the following symptoms is typical in a biphasic allergic response?

1. Initial acute reaction followed by a delayed reaction

2. Immediate severe reaction only

3. Progressive symptoms over days

4. No symptoms after first response

The correct answer is: Initial acute reaction followed by a delayed reaction

A biphasic allergic response is characterized by an initial acute allergic reaction that occurs shortly after exposure to an allergen, followed by a delayed reaction that can occur hours later. This phenomenon highlights the body's immune system's tendency to sometimes react to allergens in two distinct phases. The first phase typically involves symptoms such as hives, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing that arise quickly. As the body continues to process the allergen, a second wave of symptoms can manifest after a period of time, often ranging from several hours to a day or more after the initial symptoms begin to resolve. Other options describe different types of allergic reactions. An immediate severe reaction only suggests a singular acute response without the delayed phase, which does not align with the biphasic nature of the response. Progressive symptoms over days would indicate a different type of allergic process, perhaps involving chronic exposure or a different condition entirely. Lastly, having no symptoms after the first response would negate the very essence of a biphasic reaction, where a second set of symptoms is expected. Therefore, the hallmark of the biphasic response accurately captures the dual nature—an initial reaction followed by a delayed resurgence of symptoms.