Drug allergy is an allergic reaction caused by consuming or injecting certain medications. It is the side effect of drugs that not just affects the skin but also the internal organs of the body. You need to be alert if you are consuming medications. If allergic to a particular drug, avoid it permanently as once an allergy is developed it stays for life. Life-threatening drug allergies occur without previous symptoms. The may also cause vomiting, hair loss, pigmentation, and diarrhea.

Causes Of Drug Allergy

Anyone can get a drug allergy. However, people having a family history of drug allergy are more prone to suffering from it. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system's fighting cells produce antibodies to fight a disease. Due to the release of chemicals by antibodies, the surrounding cells are injured causing an allergic reaction in the process. Histamines releasing antibodies cause allergy in the skin, mucous glands, mucous membranes, and smooth muscle cells.

Drugs That Cause Allergy

Drugs that usually cause drug allergies are analgesics and anti-rheumatics like saridon, paracetamol, and aspirin, epileptics like carbamazepine and phenytoin, and antibiotics like penicillins and sulphonamides. Drug allergies can cause serious skin reactions that may lead to death. These reactions are urticaria and erthyema multiforme. The less serious skin drug allergy is maculo-papular or measles-like rashes.

Symptoms Of Drug Allergy

Drug allergy symptoms occur soon after intake of the drug. Skin rashes, itching, and hives are a common sight. Severe drug allergy causes a severe condition called anaphylaxis. The symptoms of anaphylaxis are sudden tightening of the chest, difficulty in breathing, anxiety, weakness, low blood pressure, loss of conscious, and shock. Sudden death can occur due to anaphylactic shock. Even children suffer from drug allergy. Allergy to drugs like ampicillin and amoxicillin cause toxic rash in children.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Drug Allergy

Drug allergy is diagnosed by observing the symptoms that occur after consuming the drug. A definite diagnosis is made when the symptoms stop on discontinuing the drug. The doctor prescribes certain medications after checking the symptoms. The anaphylactic shock treatment requires an immediate injection of epinephrine. Never self-medicate and remember to wear a medic-alert bracelet in case of emergency.

If you are thinking that allergy is only a simple disease, you may be quite wrong. You may be afflicted by only one or two types of allergies. This may lead you to feel that allergies are limited to only those types. However, if you take a look around and see other people suffering from various other allergies you will soon realize that allergies are definitely not as simple as they sound. You will be flabbergasted to know the variety of the types of allergies that occur.

Allergies can be roughly classified under three different categories. Almost all the varied kinds of allergies may be place under them. Let us take a look at the three different categories and the types that come under them.