What is the most likely cause of wheezing and hives?

Wheezing and hives are both symptoms commonly associated with allergic reactions, particularly food allergies. When an individual has a food allergy, their immune system mistakenly identifies a protein in a certain food as harmful, leading to the release of chemicals such as histamine. This release can cause various allergic symptoms, including respiratory issues like wheezing and skin reactions like hives.

In this context, food allergies are particularly significant because they can trigger swift and severe reactions that involve both respiratory pathways and skin manifestations. Understanding this connection is crucial for recognizing the signs of allergic responses, especially in food service settings where food allergies are a common concern.

Other options, such as insect bites, environmental factors, and respiratory infections, can cause similar symptoms but do not typically account for both wheezing and hives occurring together in the same immediate allergic response context as food allergies do. This makes food allergies the most likely cause when these specific symptoms are present concurrently.