What is a potential consequence of untreated allergic reactions for patients with type I hypersensitivity?

Patients with type I hypersensitivity experience immediate allergic reactions to allergens, characterized by the release of histamines and other mediators from mast cells and basophils. When these allergic reactions are untreated, there is a significant risk of progression to anaphylaxis, which is a severe, life-threatening systemic reaction.

Anaphylaxis can lead to rapid onset symptoms including difficulty breathing due to airway constriction, a drop in blood pressure, and potentially organ failure. This response can escalate quickly, making immediate medical attention critical. The severity of this potential outcome underscores the importance of recognizing and managing allergic reactions promptly, especially in individuals known to have type I hypersensitivity.

The other options represent different conditions or responses that, while they can occur in different contexts, are not direct consequences of untreated type I hypersensitivity reactions. Local inflammation typically describes a more contained response rather than a systemic reaction. Chronic pain and autoimmune disease are also unrelated to the acute allergic response and instead pertain to different mechanisms of injury or immune response within the body.