THE MANAGEMENT OF URTICARIA DUE TO PENICILLIN

Abstract

The most frequently encountered reaction to sodium penicillin administered parenterally is urticaria. Other reactions affecting the skin have been described, including "id" type reactions on the hands and feet, maculopapular eruptions of various types and erythema multiforme-like lesions.¹ It is our purpose in this paper to summarize our experience concerning the incidence of urticarial reactions during and after penicillin therapy, to cite cases demonstrating the unpredictability of this reaction and to report instances in which reacting patients could, and could not, tolerate continuance of penicillin therapy by the simultaneous administration of compounds having an antihistaminic effect. Urticaria resulting from penicillin therapy was first reported by Keefer and his associates.² Dawson and Hobby³ observed 3 instances of urticaria in the first 100 patients whom they treated with penicillin. They pointed out that the allergic response to penicillin might be due to impurities in the complex mixture, but this