The usual symptoms are severe skin reactions, often on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Fever. Joint pain. Swelling of lymph nodes. changes in vision, and difficulty in movement. Breathing difficulty may occur.
Diagnosis is made by observing the symptoms and reviewing the patient's.history. patients who present with symptoms of serum sickness and who have a recent history of exposure to a drug or other product.should be suspected of having serum sickness.
Serum sickness is a reaction similar to an allergy. Specifically, it is an immune system reaction to certain medications, injected proteins used to treat immune conditions, or antiserum, the liquid part of blood that contains antibodies that help protect against infectious or poisonous substances.
See also: Immune response
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPlasma 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 a particular infection or poisonous substance. Antiserum may be used to protect a person who has been exposed to a potentially dangerous microorganism against which the person has not been immunized. For example, you may receive a certain type of antiserum injection if you have been exposed to tetanus or rabies. This is called passive immunization. It gives you immediate, but temporary, protection while your body develops an active immune response against the toxin or microorganism.
During serum sickness, the immune system falsely identifies a protein in antiserum as a potentially harmful substance (antigen). The result is a faulty immune system response that attacks the antiserum. Immune system elements and the antiserum combine to form immune complexes, which cause inflammation and other symptoms.
Certain medications (such as penicillin, cefaclor, and sulfa) can cause a similar reaction. Unlike other drug allergies, which occur very soon after receiving the medication again, serum sickness develops 7 - 21 days after the first exposure to a medication.
Injected proteins such as antithymocyte globulin (used to treat organ transplant rejection) and rituximab (used to treat immune disorders and cancers) cause serum sickness reactions.
Blood products may also cause serum sickness.
SymptomsNote: Symptoms usually do not develop until 7 - 21 days after the first dose of antiserum or exposure to the medication. However, some people may develop symptoms in 1 - 3 days if they have previously been exposed to the substance.
Signs and testsThe lymph nodes may be enlarged and tender to the touch. The urine may contain blood or protein. Blood tests may show immune complexes or signs of blood vessel inflammation.
TreatmentCorticosteroid creams or ointments or other soothing skin medications may relieve discomfort from itching and rash.
Antihistamines may shorten the length of illness and help ease rash and itching.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may relieve joint pain. Corticosteroids taken by mouth (such as prednisone) may be prescribed for severe cases.
Medications causing the problem should be stopped, and future use of the medication or antiserum should be avoided.
Expectations (prognosis)The symptoms usually go away within a few days.
ComplicationsIf the drug or antiserum that caused serum sickness is used again in the future, your risk of having another similar reaction is quite high.
Complications include:
Call your health care provider if medication or antiserum has been given within the last 4 weeks and symptoms of serum sickness appear.
PreventionThere is no known way to prevent the development of serum sickness.
People who have experienced serum sickness, anaphylactic shock, or drug allergy should avoid future use of the antiserum or drug.
ReferencesSalmon JE. Mechanisms of immune mediated tissue injury. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 44.
Serum sickness is a reaction similar to an allergy. Specifically, it is an immune system reaction to certain medications, injected proteins used to treat immune conditions, or antiserum, the liquid part of blood that contains antibodies that help protect against infectious or poisonous substances.
See also: Immune response
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPlasma 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 a particular infection or poisonous substance. Antiserum may be used to protect a person who has been exposed to a potentially dangerous microorganism against which the person has not been immunized. For example, you may receive a certain type of antiserum injection if you have been exposed to tetanus or rabies. This is called passive immunization. It gives you immediate, but temporary, protection while your body develops an active immune response against the toxin or microorganism.
During serum sickness, the immune system falsely identifies a protein in antiserum as a potentially harmful substance (antigen). The result is a faulty immune system response that attacks the antiserum. Immune system elements and the antiserum combine to form immune complexes, which cause inflammation and other symptoms.
Certain medications (such as penicillin, cefaclor, and sulfa) can cause a similar reaction. Unlike other drug allergies, which occur very soon after receiving the medication again, serum sickness develops 7 - 21 days after the first exposure to a medication.
Injected proteins such as antithymocyte globulin (used to treat organ transplant rejection) and rituximab (used to treat immune disorders and cancers) cause serum sickness reactions.
Blood products may also cause serum sickness.
SymptomsNote: Symptoms usually do not develop until 7 - 21 days after the first dose of antiserum or exposure to the medication. However, some people may develop symptoms in 1 - 3 days if they have previously been exposed to the substance.
Signs and testsThe lymph nodes may be enlarged and tender to the touch. The urine may contain blood or protein. Blood tests may show immune complexes or signs of blood vessel inflammation.
TreatmentCorticosteroid creams or ointments or other soothing skin medications may relieve discomfort from itching and rash.
Antihistamines may shorten the length of illness and help ease rash and itching.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may relieve joint pain. Corticosteroids taken by mouth (such as prednisone) may be prescribed for severe cases.
Medications causing the problem should be stopped, and future use of the medication or antiserum should be avoided.
Expectations (prognosis)The symptoms usually go away within a few days.
ComplicationsIf the drug or antiserum that caused serum sickness is used again in the future, your risk of having another similar reaction is quite high.
Complications include:
Call your health care provider if medication or antiserum has been given within the last 4 weeks and symptoms of serum sickness appear.
PreventionThere is no known way to prevent the development of serum sickness.
People who have experienced serum sickness, anaphylactic shock, or drug allergy should avoid future use of the antiserum or drug.
ReferencesSalmon JE. Mechanisms of immune mediated tissue injury. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 44.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/02/2010
Stuart I. Henochowicz, MD, FACP, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Georgetown University Medical School; and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Serum sickness develops at a result of exposure to animal-derived antibodies. The body mistakes these antibodies as antigens and develops an immune response to them.
Serum sickness is a type of delayed allergic response, appearing four to 10 days after exposure to some antibiotics or antiserum, the portion of serum that contains antibodies, such as gamma globulin.
The first step in treatment of serum sickness is always to discontinue the drug or other substance which is suspected of causing the reaction. After that, all treatment is symptomatic. Antihistamines, pain relievers, and corticosteroids may be given.
While other types of allergic reactions may produce a rapid response, the serum sickness reaction is delayed because it takes time for the body to produce antibodies to the new protein.
Most serum sickness reactions are mild, and disappear on their own after one or two weeks as long as the cause is removed. Sometimes, symptoms.may continue for several weeks. In very rare cases.there can be severe reactions and permanent damage.
No. Even though the treatment solution for allergy shot is sometimes called "allergy serum", there is no serum in these solutions. Serum sickness occurs when a large dose of an animal serum protein or a large dose of some medications are given and the immune system make high doses of immune antibody against that protein. Small capillaries in the joints, kidneys, skin, etc get plugged up by the clumps formed when the antibody joins with the protein. Allergy shots use very week doses because the person is already allergic to the treatment solution. Large doses are required to develop serum sickness.
The most common adverse reactions to Penicillin are: rash, drug fever, serum sickness, anaphylaxis, neuropathy, and nephropathy.
Serum
If you mean the body is mounting an immune response to foreign antibodies, this can be a case of Type III Hypersensitivity (e.g. serum sickness).
Serum is serum
Serum Serum
Serum is generally free from blood cellular components but when collecting serum sometimes few cells will be pipetted with the serum & that is the only source of DNA in the serum.
how can you test for any toxity in blood serum or serum tears.