At a birthday party, Sam eats a chocolate chip cookie with peanuts. Within minutes, he has trouble breathing, his blood pressure plummets, and he has to be rushed to the hospital for treatment. Which condition is the MOST likely cause of his symptoms?

allergy to nuts ...

Peanut allergy

Explanation:

Peanut allergy is a food allergy caused by peanuts. It is caused due to immune system's type I hypersensitivity reaction. Dendritic cells recognize peanut allergens as foreign pathogens. Immunoglobulin E acts to release histamine from mast cells which causes the symptoms of allergy.

The symptoms include hives, itchiness, vomiting, diarrhea etc. In severe cases asthma like symptoms develop, blood pressure drops and cardiac arrest might occur. Allergic exposure can occur via ingestion and also via skin contact or inhalation of peanut allergens.