Which transfusion reaction is characterized by acute respiratory distress and tachycardia?

The transfusion reaction characterized by acute respiratory distress and tachycardia is circulatory overload. This condition occurs when the volume of blood transfused exceeds the cardiovascular system's capacity to handle it, leading to symptoms of fluid overload. Patients may experience difficulty breathing due to pulmonary edema, which is a buildup of fluid in the lungs. Tachycardia, or an increased heart rate, often accompanies this reaction as the heart attempts to compensate for the increased blood volume.

In cases of circulatory overload, medical professionals may observe symptoms such as hypertension, jugular venous distension, and pulmonary congestion on examination. Effective management often includes the use of diuretics to help remove excess fluid and supportive measures to ensure the patient's respiratory and cardiac functions are stable.

Understanding the distinction between this reaction and others is vital for effective patient care. For instance, septic reactions are linked to infection and usually present with fever and chills, while febrile reactions primarily cause fevers and chills without the respiratory distress seen in circulatory overload. Hemolytic transfusion reactions, caused by the immune response to incompatible blood types, can show a variety of symptoms including fever, chills, and back pain, but they do not typically present with the acute respiratory distress and tachy