Antimicrobial agents containing a substance called sulfonamide could activate negative response when a person has a sulfa allergy. Sulfonamides are drugs used for either non-antimicrobial antimicrobial treatment for infections. It is not used commonly nowadays because of its unwanted side effects. These antimicrobial agents include septra and bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) and erythromycin-sulfisoxazole. The allergic reaction of tissues to sulfonamide is frequent.
The difference in molecular structure between the types of sulfonamide is the reason why allergic response happens. The name used to picture an unfavorable drug reaction caused by allergic contact with sulfonamides is called sulfa allergy. There are overt symptoms which may range from mild to life-threatening that will be manifested if a person has sulfa allergy.
As soon as the antimicrobial drug was taken, the symptoms will be observed. The immune system will recognize these drugs as foreign bodies. Histamidines and antibodies are released as an immune-response to the drug. This actions give rise to noticeable side effects both external and internal parts of the body system. One of these is the skin’s reaction to the drug. By the time the antimicrobial agent came in contact with the tissues, it might possibly cause a mild rash or hives.
Hypersensitivity, excessive reactions produced by immune system, and photosensitivity, sensitivity to sunlight, can also be triggered that could cause the spread of rush over trunks and extremities. This kind of symptom is considered mild. When rashes are overly exposed to sunlight, it becomes severe. If ever sulfa medication was prolonged, there is a chance that the itchiness of rashes would even severely worsen your skin’s condition. As a result, life threatening diseases like toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which the epidermal layer of the integument detaches from the underlying layers, will initiate.
Internally, allergic reaction to sulfonamide tends to initiate inflammatory in different vital organs in the body system. In the liver, sulfa medication tends to initiate hepatitis-inflammatory in the liver. Allergic reactions cause kidney injury. The continuous medication of antimicrobial sulfa will worsen lung diseases including asthma and deteriorate breathing phases. Furthermore, blood reaction also occurs in sulfa allergy. Allergic response will have an effect on the number of blood cells. Thus, the reduction of these vital components will take place. This kind of symptom is life threatening.
Sulfa allergy cannot be diagnosed in the laboratory examination. Unfortunately, because of this, this kind of allergy cannot be prevented. On your own, testing the allergic reaction of sulfa in your skin (mild medication) is a way of diagnosing the presence the said illness for you to be aware if you have sulfa allergy. When the said preceding symptoms are experienced and observed, discontinue medication.
When disgustingly harmed by the allergic reactions, seek for immediate professional medical attention. More appropriately, even if you experience mild symptoms, go and see help from doctors. Firstly, the treatment of allergy demands discontinuance of the medication. In this manner, you will be able to prevent harmful symptoms. The second step is medicinally treating the symptoms primarily for hives and rashes. The inflammation triggered by the allergy is treated by using a man-made drug called corticosteroid.
