Antibiotic Allergy Test: What are the benefits and how is the procedure?

Penicillin is one of the most common drugs triggering allergic reactions. For those who tend to have allergies to drugs, it's a good idea to take an antibiotic allergy test. What is the reason

Because allergic reactions can cause serious symptoms that can be life threatening. Call it anaphylaxis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Allergic reactions in patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or SJS is a condition that attacks the skin and mucous membranes, eyes and genitals. Symptoms begin with fever, headache, body ache, sore throat and cough, similar to flu symptoms.

Then, the patient will experience a red or purple rash that spreads and forms blisters. Blistered dead skin tissue and peeling. The skin conditions of the victims often resemble those of burn victims.
 
Dangers of SJS if not treated immediately

If not treated properly, SJS can cause complications such as scarring and skin discoloration, internal organ disorders due to inflammation, eye irritation and dryness, corneal disorders, and blindness.

SJS is usually caused by allergic reactions to substances contained in antibiotics and certain infections. As a result, his appearance is often unexpected. This is one of the reasons why allergy testing is very important.

The purpose and function of antibiotic allergy testing

Allergy tests are designed to determine whether a person really has an allergy to certain drugs, especially those given by injection. By knowing this precisely, the doctor can provide the right and effective medicine to treat an illness.

According to one study, antibiotics, especially penicillin (penicillin), are one of the most allergic drugs. This drug works by binding to proteins in the blood and cells of the body to trigger the immune system.

This process can cause the immune system to identify penicillin as an allergen (allergic trigger). If this is the case, the immune system will develop antibodies against penicillin. As a result, allergic reactions will occur during subsequent penicillin use.

If someone is allergic to one type of antibiotic, it can usually be replaced with another type of antibiotic. But the reality is not so simple.

The administration of penicillin-free antibiotics to people suspected of penicillin allergy can actually cause other problems. For example, an increased risk of infection with antibiotic resistant bacteria due to the use of higher antibiotic levels.

In addition, this type of antibiotic is usually more expensive, so of course this will add to your treatment costs.

Is the antibiotic allergy test different from the usual allergy test?
Remember that an antibiotic allergy test is different from an allergy test in general, which is usually used to test the body's immune response to other substances. For example, food allergies (such as shells or nuts), animal dander, dust or mites.

This allergy test for common things is called a skin test. While the allergy test for antibiotics is known as a skin test.

During an antibiotic allergy test, the doctor will inject some antibiotics into the patient's skin. Therefore, this test is often called an intradermal test.

Antibiotic Allergy Test Procedure

An antibiotic allergy test, called a skin test, is only done when certain antibiotics are given to someone. What is the method like?

The doctor or health worker will inject antigens under the skin. The injection site is then surrounded by a pen so that it can be observed.

The observation process will be carried out for 10 to 15 minutes to determine whether there is an allergic reaction to the injected part, in the form of swelling.

Drug allergies and side effects can cause mild to severe symptoms. The difference, allergic The person responsible for the symptoms is the immune system reaction, which considers harmless substances as harmful to the body.

Drug allergies can also occur after several drug uses. This means that you cannot have an allergic reaction when you use the medicine for the first time. Then an allergic reaction occurs when using the same medicine next time.

Because when you use drugs, the immune system doesn't recognize it as a dangerous foreign substance. When used later, the immune system already considers the drug as a harmful substance and produces a body's defensive reaction until the onset of allergic symptoms.

With antibiotic allergy tests, you can avoid using drugs and antibiotics that cause allergies Likewise, avoid using unnecessary types of antibiotics.

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