When a medication causes an allergic reaction, it is referred to as a drug hypersensitivity. For reasons not completely understood, the immune system, (the body's defense system), sees a particular medication as a "foreign" substance. When this drug is injected or swallowed, the immune system reacts by developing antibodies (special proteins in the blood designed to render this foreign substance harmless). When another dose of the same drug is given, these antibodies are already prepared to respond. It is this response that causes the allergic reaction and symptoms. Allergic reactions can also occur the first time a drug is given. Risk increases with a history of other allergies, including asthma, hay fever, and food allergies; with the use of certain antibiotics, especially penicillin and cephalosporin, sulfa drugs; some anesthetics; iodine compounds; contrast dyes used in special X-rays; allergy extracts; animal serums, and some vaccines.

Symptoms may include:

• Rash, hives; itching; flushed skin
• Swelling of the hands, feet, face or throat and difficulty breathing
• Anxiety, fever, joint pain, nerve damage
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Photosensitivity (a skin reaction to sunlight) may occur as a side effect to some drugs; however, this is not considered a true hypersensitivity reaction
• Anaphylaxis (severe reaction) - swelling of face and throat that may block the airway. This requires immediate medical attention.

What your doctor can do:

• Stop the medication causing the reaction immediately. You may require emergency treatment and hospitalization to receive intravenous (IV) medications and respiratory support.
• Prescribe antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) to treat allergy symptoms and steroid medications to decrease the inflammatory reaction.
• Give an anaphylaxis kit that contains a pref-filled syringe with the medication epinephrine for cases of severe reactions.

What you can do:

• Inform all health care providers, including dentists, about any drug reactions your child has had.
• Learn the names of all drugs that have caused a reaction. Be aware that other drugs in the same class may also cause reactions. DO NOT let your child take these medicines either.
• Read labels on all nonprescription drugs and talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you are uncertain about ingredients.
• Notify the day-care or school of all drug allergies or hypersensitivities.
• Have an anaphylaxis kit available for emergencies. It is best if everyone in the family knows how to use it.

What you can expect:

• Many reactions cause no long-term problems
• Possible complications include death from sever anaphylaxis or disability for many months or serum sickness (a special type of reaction that include joint inflammation, fever, and nerve damage).

Contact your doctor if symptoms of drug hypersensitivity occur.

Call 9-1-1 for symptoms of a severe reaction. This can be life threatening!

Contact Lake Area Pediatrics at
(936) 582-5620