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Antibiotic allergy
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
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Allergy to antibiotics is a very common factor, sometimes as a result of which the patient not only does not get rid of some disease, but also acquires a portion of other, unpleasant side effects.
An allergy is a reaction of the body's immune system to the entry of various proteins or protein compounds. A huge number of medications contain proteins that are foreign to the body. The "enemy" that has entered the body encounters an obstacle in the form of an activated immune system for a short time, which, in turn, begins to signal the emergence of a problem with an allergy to antibiotics.
The malaise manifests itself as a common urticaria: a person notices red spots on the body that itch, burning of the skin, conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis appear. A severe form of the malaise is accompanied by the occurrence of anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema, asthma attacks.
One very important concept to remember is pseudoallergy. Pseudoallergy differs from antibiotic allergy in that it is caused not by the presence of an allergen in the body, but by its excess. This can often be observed when a person, without listening to the doctor's recommendations, takes a large dose of the prescribed medicine. The body lets the patient understand with allergies that the amount of the drug consumed was too high.
The main symptoms of pseudo-allergy include dizziness, dyspepsia, headache, and increased blood pressure.
An allergy to antibiotics may appear as a result of a drug that is not an allergen for humans. This may happen if the patient has a predisposition to an allergic reaction to some antibiotics. Taking any medication can provoke the occurrence of the disease.
You can judge the possibility of developing an allergy to antibiotics by your relatives. If any of them suffer from an allergy to a certain drug, you should tell your doctor about it to avoid prescribing this drug. Also, the malaise can occur as a result of long-term use of a drug, which you should also tell your doctor about.
Taking any antibiotic has unpleasant consequences, called side effects. One of these effects is an allergy that appears in connection with any substance included in the medication. However, it should be noted that each human body reacts to the drug in its own way: someone may develop an allergy to the antibiotic as a result of taking it, while another will feel great.
Another important factor that should not be forgotten when taking medications: the same medication may or may not cause an allergic reaction. This is due to the form in which the drug enters the body. For example, a drug in tablets causes an allergy, but in the form of a tincture, the human immune system will accept it calmly. The "secret" is that, in addition to the medicinal substance itself, the tablet, for example, contains many other substances to which a person may be allergic.
An allergy to antibiotics is a very serious ailment that can lead to a lot of different side effects, including death. That is why you should not prescribe medications to yourself without consulting a doctor.
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