What is the most common cause of anaphylactic shock?

What is the most common cause of anaphylactic shock?

• A. Insect sting
• B. Food allergen
• C. Parenteral administration of allergen
• D. Latex

Answer: (C)

Anaphylaxis is a rapid, life-threatening reaction driven by widespread mediator release from mast cells and basophils in response to an allergen. The speed and severity of the reaction depend a lot on how the allergen enters the body. Parenteral exposure—injecting the allergen directly into the bloodstream or tissue—delivers the trigger straight to systemic circulation, bypassing barriers and triggering widespread, swift mediator release. That direct, rapid distribution makes this route the most likely to precipitate full-blown anaphylactic shock in many clinical settings, especially during procedures or treatments that involve injections of drugs, contrast agents, or other injectable allergens. In this context, even though foods and insect stings can cause anaphylaxis, the injection of an allergen is particularly prone to causing rapid shock due to the immediacy of systemic involvement. Latex and other triggers exist, but their contribution to anaphylactic shock is typically smaller compared to parenteral exposures in practice.

Anaphylaxis is a rapid, life-threatening reaction driven by widespread mediator release from mast cells and basophils in response to an allergen. The speed and severity of the reaction depend a lot on how the allergen enters the body. Parenteral exposure—injecting the allergen directly into the bloodstream or tissue—delivers the trigger straight to systemic circulation, bypassing barriers and triggering widespread, swift mediator release. That direct, rapid distribution makes this route the most likely to precipitate full-blown anaphylactic shock in many clinical settings, especially during procedures or treatments that involve injections of drugs, contrast agents, or other injectable allergens.

In this context, even though foods and insect stings can cause anaphylaxis, the injection of an allergen is particularly prone to causing rapid shock due to the immediacy of systemic involvement. Latex and other triggers exist, but their contribution to anaphylactic shock is typically smaller compared to parenteral exposures in practice.