Causes of a drug allergy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Drug allergies in children most often occur with antibiotics: penicillin, less often other penicillin antibiotics, cephalosporins, tetracycline, sulfonamides, antihistamines, thiamine (vitamin B1), hormonal drugs (ACTH, insulin, etc.), lysozyme, salicylates, iodides.
The predisposing factor is atopic diathesis. According to the literature, drug allergy is detected in 25-30% of children with atopic diathesis and only 0.5% of children without it.
[How does the drug allergy develop in children?
All four types of allergic reactions, according to Dzhellu and Coombs, can be a pathogenetic link of a medicinal allergy.
- Acute allergic reactions in response to the intake of medication are usually mediated by type I reactions - reactants (IgE).
- Subacute reactions that develop within 72 hours after taking the drug are more likely to be caused by type II reactions, mediated by IgG and IgM and complex antigen (drug hapten + tissue protein).
- Still later, protracted allergic reactions to drugs, caused by type III reactions - immune complexes. In the genesis of subacute and protracted reactions, the reactive (IgE) can play a decisive role.