Anaphylactoid Reaction to Penicillins V and G Administered Orally

Abstract

IT is now well known and frequently reported that anaphylactic reactions to parenteral injections of penicillin occur^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9} and that the mortality may be as high as 30 per cent.^{1 , 6} There is, however, less awareness of the fact that this type of reaction can also be caused by tablets,^{8 9 10 11 12 13 14} lozenges,^{15 , 16} aerosol spray,⁴ paranasal-sinus irrigation,^{17 , 18} ophthalmic ointment,¹⁹ contaminated syringes^{20 , 21} and skin testing.^{20 21 22} A review of the medical literature in English up to the present time reveals 9 cases actually reported and 2 others^{8 , 14} alluded to that were due to oral tablets, in addition to 2 cases due to lozenges (Table 1).The . . .