A disorder resulting from antibody-antigen complexes (typically a protein and IgG/IgM) that are formed after exposure to a foreign antigen
An acute type III hypersensitivity reaction ...
History of exposure to medication or serum in preceding 1 to 3 weeks
Absence of chronic constitutional symptoms
Common symptoms include:
Fever (>38.5°C)
Edema (especially facial)
Regi...
Discontinue the offending agent.
Reticuloendothelial system removes immune complexes, leading to improvement in 48 to 72 hours.
Complete resolution of rash may take days to wee...
Bed rest during acute illness if severe arthralgia/myalgia
No indication for skin testing for β-lactam antibiotics because severe non–IgE-mediated reactions are dr...
Bonds RS, Kelly BC. Severe serum sickness after H1N1 influenza vaccination. Am J Med Sci. 2013;345(5):412–413. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
Hempel C, Martin C. Getting under ...
T80.69XA Other serum reaction due to other serum, initial encounter
T80.62XA Other serum reaction due to vaccination, initial encounter
T80.61XA Oth serum reaction due to admin blood/products...
Consider serum sickness when patients present with symptoms and recent exposure to a foreign antigen (particularly medications).
Cutaneous drug reactions are among the most commonly rep...
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