Drug allergy is the abnormal response of our body to the drug we use or to other additional substances in it, such as preservatives, sweeteners, colorants. Drug allergy can develop through 4 different mechanisms. Post-medication findings vary according to these mechanisms. There are light and heavy forms of each. It can be life-threatening as well as cause very mild symptoms. All drugs used can cause an allergic reaction. The drugs that most commonly cause allergies are penicillin group antibiotics and pain relievers.
However, not every reaction that develops after using drugs is an allergy. Therefore, drug allergy is not as common as one might think. Drug allergy diagnoses made without appropriate tests and evaluations cause treatment limitations and confusion in the diseases that patients will experience. Skin rashes, which are already normal to be seen during viral infections, especially in children, are attributed to this drug if antibiotics are used simultaneously. And from that age, a drug allergy label, especially penicillin allergy diagnosis is given. For this reason, people who are told to have a drug allergy should be evaluated by a specialist.
What Kind of Findings Can Develop?
The most common skin involvement is. That is, after taking the drug, itchy red and raised rashes develop on the skin. Sometimes there may be swelling of the lips in the tongue, which we call angioedema. Apart from this, allergic shock symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, fainting, loss of consciousness may develop. Late-type drug allergies, on the other hand, have more symptoms related to the deterioration of the function of the involved organ. There may be redness on the skin, swelling in the lymph nodes, enlargement of the liver, dysfunctions, and deterioration in kidney functions.
Diagnosis
Detailed history is very important for us. Especially if it has been a long time since the reaction, families may forget or misremember some findings and the time of their occurrence. For this reason, it has a very important place for us in the medical records of these patients. However, unfortunately, it is not always possible for us to access these records. or.
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