Antibiotics may cause various types of allergic drug reactions ranging from mild to serious cutaneous reactions. Therefore, a high index of clinical suspicion, immediate diagnosis, and withdrawal of the suspected drugs are the most important steps in the management of antibiotic allergy. This article discusses the significance of early identification and various modalities used for diagnosis of antibiotic allergy. According to various epidemiological studies, antibiotics are one of the most common causes of drug allergy, both among adults and children.
Antibiotic allergy may occur in the form of immediate or non-immediate (delayed) hypersensitivity reactions. Among the various classes of antibiotics, beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins), cotrimoxazole and quinolones are some of the most common causes of antibiotic allergy. The management of antibiotic allergy begins…
