Question

1. Recognize the importance of questioning patients about allergies before the initial dose of all drugs, especially Penicillins.

Answer 1

An allergy is the response of the Immune system to foreign substance in the body like pollen, drug, and food. The immune system responds to these allergens by triggering an immune response known as the allergic reaction. An allergy can be identified and confirmed by their symptoms and or skin or blood tests.

It is essential to know a patient’s body reaction when exposed to allergens for a better medical treatment. It is important to ask the patient for any known drug allergies for better diagnosis, and document it in the patient file for further reference. The medical record of a patient is considered incomplete without the information on the patient’s medical allergies.

Common triggers of drug allergy include:

• Penicillin and related antibiotic
• Anticonvulsants
• Sulpha drugs
• Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory drugs
• Chemotherapy drugs

Penicillin belongs to a group of antibiotics called beta-lactams. It is a commonly prescribed antibiotic and causes most drug allergy symptoms. An individual who is allergic or who has been reported to be allergic to any one of the penicillin should be presumed to be allergic to all penicillin and thereby should avoid the entire group.

The most common symptoms of drug allergy include rash, hives or fever. It can also cause adverse drug reactions and Anaphylaxis that are life threatening.

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction which can affect two or more organs simultaneously. It requires immediate medical attention.

In order to provide better diagnosis and effective treatment, it is necessary to understand and gather information about the patient’s allergic response to any drug, which can be done by questioning the patient.