Aspirin – or acetylsalicylic acid -- is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. And, as it can be bought without a prescription, it’s one that medical professionals are not always aware their patients are taking.
But anyone reading Drug Allergy - Aspirin Allergy: What Are The Symptoms, a recent article posted on the Mayo Clinic website – will understand that it’s important to specifically ask patients if they’re taking aspirin when they come in complaining of an ailment. That’s because the symptoms of an allergy to acetylsalicylic acid are varied, and might otherwise be attributed to another source, thereby causing a misdiagnosis.
According to the article, which was written by James T. Li, M.D. (November 2010), acetylsalicylic acid allergies or sensitivities are not uncommon. Symptoms may include: Hives; itchy skin; runny nose; red eyes; swelling of lips, tongue or face; coughing; wheezing or shortness of breath.
Looking at the above list affirms what I’ve already stated: the symptoms for acetylsalicylic acid allergies are similar to those that might occur in a host of other ailments. A patient might even complain that they have a cold or the flu, not realizing they have an acetylsalicylic acid allergy. And when asked what medications they’ve taken, many patients will only detail the drugs prescribed to them by a doctor – not giving the needed importance to the aspirin they bought at their neighborhood pharmacy. It’s up to medical professionals – like nurses – to specifically ask if they’ve taken aspirin.
According to Dr. Lim (November 2010), a patient with an allergy to acetylsalicylic acid may experience symptoms within a few hours of ingesting aspirin. However, anaphylaxis – a rare, but life-threatening reaction – can occur within seconds or minutes of taking acetylsalicylic acid. An article also found on the Mayo Clinic website, Anaphylaxis – Definition (September 2010) – states that if a patient is not immediately treated with an injection of epinephrine he or she may die.
This is just one of the many reasons that nurses should ask patients if they’ve taken acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin – and not just the generic question, “Are you taking any medication.”
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