Medical expert of the article
New publications
Causes of drug allergies
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Drug allergy in children most often occurs when taking antibiotics: penicillin, less often other penicillin antibiotics, cephalosporins, tetracycline, sulfonamides, antihistamines, thiamine (vitamin B1), hormonal drugs (ACTH, insulin, etc.), lysozyme, salicylates, iodides.
A predisposing factor is atopic diathesis. According to literature, drug allergy is detected in 25-30% of children with atopic diathesis and only in 0.5% of children without it.
[ How does drug allergy develop in children?
All four types of allergic reactions, according to Gell and Coombs, can be a pathogenetic link in drug allergy.
- Acute allergic reactions in response to medication are usually mediated by type I reactions - reagins (IgE).
- Subacute reactions developing within 72 hours after taking the drug are most often caused by type II reactions, mediated by IgG and IgM and a complex antigen (drug hapten + tissue protein).
- Even later, prolonged allergic reactions to drugs caused by type III reactions - immune complexes - appear. Reagins (IgE) can also play a decisive role in the genesis of subacute and prolonged reactions.