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Multiple Choice

Skin symptoms in anaphylaxis are characterized by which statement?

Skin involvement in anaphylaxis can be variable, with angioedema and urticaria commonly seen but not always together. Angioedema may occur with urticaria or by itself, and some patients have urticaria without angioedema, while others may have minimal or no skin signs despite systemic involvement. This makes the statement that angioedema may appear with or without urticaria the most accurate description of skin manifestations in anaphylaxis. Urticaria is not required for diagnosis—anaphylaxis can occur without hives. Acute urticaria itself is not always due to an allergic cause; it can be idiopathic or non-IgE mediated. The notion that pseudoallergy involves late-type hypersensitivity reactions is inaccurate for describing anaphylaxis, since many non-IgE mechanisms can trigger anaphylaxis and does not rely on late-type (delayed) hypersensitivity.

Skin involvement in anaphylaxis can be variable, with angioedema and urticaria commonly seen but not always together. Angioedema may occur with urticaria or by itself, and some patients have urticaria without angioedema, while others may have minimal or no skin signs despite systemic involvement. This makes the statement that angioedema may appear with or without urticaria the most accurate description of skin manifestations in anaphylaxis.

Urticaria is not required for diagnosis—anaphylaxis can occur without hives. Acute urticaria itself is not always due to an allergic cause; it can be idiopathic or non-IgE mediated. The notion that pseudoallergy involves late-type hypersensitivity reactions is inaccurate for describing anaphylaxis, since many non-IgE mechanisms can trigger anaphylaxis and does not rely on late-type (delayed) hypersensitivity.