Surely an allergy would come up quicker than that...?

[Lolli]

Hi all,
Long story, short. Ds was on a 5 day course of AB's last week for a viral cold. Course finished on Monday. This morning he wakes up with a rash all over his body, splotchy and red. he's not in any pain, I don't even think he's itchy.

GP (not our usual one) says it a penicillin allergy. Makes sense, i'm allergic to penicillin myself. I just thought an allergy would have come up much faster than that?

Any info appreciated

[Doing my best]

An allergy would normally come up within 20 mins of ingesting whatever he is allergic to.

I had a reaction to penicillan halfway through a pack, but it was immediate after taking the tablet.

Could he be allergic to something in the air? A pollen or something?

[Eenee]

Allergies particularly from AB's can come up later- for eg. you can take one course and have no reaction and then take them again at a later date and have a reaction. IYKWIM?

But if the course finished on monday and it's now saturday and he's got a rash, seems a bit odd- but i'm not sure what the half life is of penicillin (half life is how long it takes to get out of your system after you take it). But to be safe better to keep it in his medical history as a penicillin allergy, because secondary reactions are often worse. Sorry probably didn't answer your question.

HEather: an allergy will not necessarily come up straight away- some reactions can take quite awhile to develop. just depends on the drug/circumstances and the individual.

[Eenee]

oh just googled and found this

Skin Symptoms
Many patients demonstrate outward signs of a penicillin allergy. Raised bumps that are often red and itchy begin to appear on the skin. These bumps or hives can vary in size and intensity and sometimes persist for hours or days. Other patients may experience a rash that appears a few hours or even days after taking penicillin. Itching may occur with or without the onset of hives or a rash.

[Lolli]

Thanks girls Special thanks to em- I try not to Google because I usually end up scaring myself, so it's nice to have someone filter in the useful info without the scary stuff

I was just on the phone to my mum and had a brainwave- ds spent most of yesterday afternoon rolling around on the buffalo grass in our front lawn, something he hasn't had a lot of contact with before. So it's possible it was the grass as well (i noticed a few little spots on him last night an put it down to the grass). But probably better to keep allergic to pencillin on his record- better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks again

[Mumma2three]

My DD is very sensitive to grass, and always comes out in a rash. I think you've found the culprit! xo

[kawazuki]

possibly could be a mix of both.

this may sound weird but in my time as a nurse i have found many people allergic to grass things are also sensitive to penicilline.

i myself am allergic to grass ( paspalam) and penicillinand a doctor once told my mum they were linked.

a good wash with a ph balanced soap will help if he is itchy at all

[Marlene]

The rash could actually be a residual part of the virus he had and may not be an allergy at all. It's not uncommon for a viral rash to appear after other symptoms have gone (or it could be a whole new virus)...but it would be a bit strange for an allergy to come out that long after the antibiotics are finished.

[aussienic]

Jacob was on penicillin a couple months ago.. After 3 doses he came out in a rash.. I have noticed with my kids when they have a virus or something about a week later they tend to come out in a rash. My GP just calls it a Viral rash which is their bodies way of dealing with it or something like that

[Liz]

Yeah I was thinking along the lines of the rash being related to the virus. Why was he on antibiotics for a viral cold? *confused*