CLINICAL PROBLEMS IN PENICILLIN SENSITIVITY

Abstract

With the rapidly increasing use of penicillin, the problems surrounding the management of patients who manifest reactions to this drug assume immediate practical importance. It is the purpose of this paper to describe some of the forms of reaction which we have encountered, with emphasis on the allergic eruptions following systemic administration, to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of the penicillin cutaneous test and to present our experiences with penicillin desensitization. CLINICAL MATERIAL AND METHODS The persons tested for sensitivity to penicillin and trichophytin included 406 adults, 250 men and 156 women, and 91 children, ranging in age from 2 months to 12 years. Of the 406 adults, 276 had never had penicillin and 130 had received the drug in varying amounts. Of the children, 65 had had no penicillin and 36 had received it. Tests were performed by the intradermal method, readings being made either at forty-eight hours