Discussion Prompt 1

Review the following case study and discuss the questions that follow. 

EO is an 8-year-old girl with a history of asthma and allergy to bee stings. She has been brought to the clinic complaining of a throat infection. Her health care provider prescribes a course of penicillin to manage her current infection and cautions her parents to watch her closely for a reaction.

1. What type of reaction is the health care provider concerned about, and why?
2. Explain the role of IgE and mast cells in type I hypersensitivity reactions. Why might EO react adversely to the antibiotic with the first use?
3. What would you tell EOs parents to look for when they are assessing for a reaction?