Penicillin Allergy

Abstract

PENICILLIN has had wide use since its introduction into clinical medicine, yet severe reactions to this drug have been few although many cases and various types of allergic reactions have been reported. The most common manifestations of sensitivity have been urticaria and angioedema.^{1 2 3} Contact dermatitis among persons handling the drug has also been described,^{4 5 6 7} and vesicular dermatitis is not rare.^{8 , 9} Reactions similar to the Arthus phenomenon have come to the attention of two investigators.^{10 , 11} One group¹² wrote of a tuberculin type of sensitivity, and McClosky and Smith¹³ produced anaphylaxis in guinea pigs sensitized to penicillin. Several authors^{14 15 16 17} have reported anaphylactic . . .