After a hornet sting, a patient exhibits signs of confusion, stridor, and hives. What is the route of poisoning in this case?

In this scenario, the symptoms exhibited after a hornet sting—confusion, stridor, and hives—indicate a severe response consistent with an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. The specific route of poisoning refers to how the toxin enters the body. In the case of a hornet sting, the venom is directly injected into the body through the stinger.

This injection of venom leads to the immediate development of symptoms, as the body reacts to the foreign substance. Confusion can arise from systemic effects of anaphylaxis, stridor indicates upper airway swelling which can be life-threatening, and hives are a common dermatological response to allergens.

Understanding this mechanism highlights why the injection route is appropriate; other routes such as topical or absorption aren’t applicable here as they do not involve direct entry of the venom into the bloodstream, which is crucial for the immediate systemic reactions seen in this patient. Additionally, while anaphylactic describes the type of reaction, it does not specify the method of venom entry. Therefore, identifying the route of exposure as injection is essential for understanding the dynamics of toxicology in this case.