M.C., a 23-year-old woman, has developed a skin rash as well as nausea and vomit

Question

M.C., a 23-year-old woman, has developed a skin rash as well as nausea and vomitting, after taking an antimicrobial drug for a short time. The skin rash is red and quite itchy and is spreading over her entire body. The physician stops the medication because of this allergic reaction. The patient has a history of skin rashes, both eczema and contact dermatitis, since infacy. She has had hay fever during the summer and fall for the past few years.

1. Why would the physician consider this an allergic reaction to a drug?

2. What kind of hypersensitivity is hay fever, and what are the signs of it?

Explanation / Answer

1. Since the patient has allergic reactions in the past as well, this might indicate that, she can be allergic to one or more compounds used in drug composition. Moreover the drug intake showed typical allergic reaction of skin rashes. So the  physician considered this an allergic reaction to a drug.

2. Hay fever is a type I hypersensitivity reaction. The signs include : excessive sneezing, excessive nasal secretion, itching, nasal congestion, irritation in eye, swelling in conjunctiva etc.

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