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Serum sickness
Drug allergy - serum sickness; Allergic reaction - serum sickness; Allergy - serum sickness
Serum sickness is a reaction that is similar to an allergy . The immune system reacts to medicines that contain proteins used to treat immune conditions. Or it can react to antiserum, the liquid part of blood that contains antibodies given to a person to help protect them against germs or poisonous substances.
Allergy
An allergy is an immune response or reaction to substances that are usually not harmful.
Immune system reacts
The immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful....
Antibodies
An antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...
Causes
Plasma is the clear fluid portion of blood. It does not contain blood cells. But it does contain many proteins, including antibodies, which are formed as part of the immune response to protect against infection.
Antiserum is produced from the plasma of a person or animal that has immunity against an infection or poisonous substance. Antiserum may be used to protect a person who has been exposed to a germ or toxin. For example, you may receive a certain type of antiserum injection:
-
If you have been exposed to
tetanus
or
rabies
and have never been vaccinated against these germs. This is called passive immunization.
Tetanus
Tetanus is an infection of the nervous system with a type of bacteria that is potentially deadly, called Clostridium tetani (C tetani).
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleRabies
Rabies is a deadly viral infection that is mainly spread by infected animals.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - If you have been bitten by a snake that produces a dangerous toxin.
During serum sickness, the immune system falsely identifies a protein in antiserum as a harmful substance ( antigen ). The result is an immune system response that attacks the antiserum. Immune system elements and the antiserum combine to form immune complexes, which cause the symptoms of serum sickness.
Antigen
An antigen is any substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it. This means your immune system does not recognize the su...
Certain medicines (such as penicillin, cefaclor, and sulfa) can cause a similar reaction.
Injected proteins such as antithymocyte globulin (used to treat organ transplant rejection) and rituximab (used to treat immune disorders and cancers) can cause serum sickness reactions.
Blood products may also cause serum sickness.
Symptoms
Unlike other drug allergies , which occur very soon after receiving the medicine, serum sickness develops 7 to 21 days after the first exposure to a medicine. Some people develop symptoms in 1 to 3 days if they have already been exposed to the medicine.
Drug allergies
Drug allergies are a group of symptoms caused by an allergic reaction to a drug (medicine).
Symptoms of serum sickness can include:
- Fever
- General ill feeling
-
Hives
Hives
Hives are raised, often itchy, red bumps (welts) on the surface of the skin. They are usually an allergic reaction to food or medicine. They can al...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Itching
- Joint pain
- Rash
- Swollen lymph nodes
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will perform an exam to look for lymph nodes that are enlarged and tender to the touch.
Tests that may be done include:
- Urine test
- Blood test
Treatment
Medicines, such as corticosteroids, applied to the skin may relieve discomfort from itching and a rash.
Antihistamines may shorten the length of the illness and help ease a rash and itching.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may relieve joint pain. Corticosteroids taken by mouth may be prescribed for severe cases.
The medicine that caused the problem should be stopped. Avoid using that medicine or antiserum in the future.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The symptoms usually go away within a few days.
Possible Complications
If you use the drug or antiserum that caused serum sickness again in the future, your risk of having another similar reaction is high.
Complications include:
- Inflammation of the blood vessels
-
Swelling of the face, arms, and legs (
angioedema
)
Angioedema
Angioedema is swelling that is similar to hives, but the swelling is under the skin instead of on the surface. Hives are often called welts. They a...
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if you received medicine or antiserum in the last 4 weeks and have symptoms of serum sickness.
Prevention
There is no known way to prevent the development of serum sickness.
People who have had serum sickness or drug allergy should avoid future use of the antiserum or drug.
References
Frank MM, Hester CG. Immune complex-mediated diseases. In: Adkinson NF Jr, Bochner BS, Burks AW, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 38.
Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Sicherer SH. Serum sickness. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 150.
-
Antibodies - illustration
Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.
Antibodies
illustration
-
Antibodies - illustration
Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.
Antibodies
illustration
Review Date: 3/14/2016
Reviewed By: Stuart I. Henochowicz, MD, FACP, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
