When a patient reports an allergy, what should you do first?

• A. Describe the symptoms experienced
• B. Ask their age
• C. Ignore it
• D. Check the medication label

Answer: (A)

When a patient reports an allergy, the first step is to obtain a clear description of the reaction to determine safety for medication administration. Ask what substance caused the reaction and have the patient describe what happened: the symptoms experienced (such as rash, itching, swelling, wheezing, trouble breathing, or GI symptoms), how quickly they appeared after exposure, how long they lasted, and what treatment was needed. This information helps distinguish a true IgE-mediated allergy from a nonallergic adverse reaction or intolerance and guides whether a medication should be avoided or if alternatives are appropriate. After gathering these details, you document the allergy accurately and flag it for the care team, then confirm the medication plan with label checks and available alternatives. Other steps like asking age or ignoring the report do not address safety as effectively, and simply checking the label without details can miss important context.