What is a sign of possible incompatibility during a transfusion?

During a blood transfusion, monitoring for signs of incompatibility is crucial to ensure patient safety. Signs of transfusion reactions can manifest in various ways, including respiratory symptoms such as coughing, an increase in body temperature or fever, and physical discomfort like back pain. Each of these symptoms may indicate different forms of a reaction, which could include hemolytic reactions, allergic responses, or other complications related to mismatched blood types.

Coughing can indicate an allergic reaction or transfer of fluid overload, while fever often accompanies a febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction. Back pain is frequently associated with acute hemolytic reactions, which occur when the immune system recognizes the transfused blood as foreign and attacks it.

Since any of these signs—coughing, fever, or back pain—could be indicators of a serious adverse reaction, the most comprehensive response acknowledges that all of these symptoms are potential signs of incompatibility during a transfusion. It is essential to be vigilant and report any such symptoms immediately to ensure appropriate medical intervention.