Posts Tagged ‘Rash’
Penicillin Allergy Dangers
Penicillin is a commonly used antibiotic to treat many illnesses. When it was first discovered it was considered a real breakthrough in the treatment of illness and infection. It is derived from the penicillin mold, the blue-green mold found on moldy oranges. Before penicillin, common infections and diseases that are only a nuisance to us today were very often fatal. For years penicillin was the only effective antibiotic treatment available for doctors to use. It is relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, making it the most often used antibiotic world wide.
Allergic Reactions To Penicillin
Allergic reactions to penicillin can often be a serious and life threatening matter. They can range from annoying rashes to life threatening breathing difficulties. You might recall answering the question ” are you allergic to penicillin” on a medical question form at your doctors office or upon admittance to a hospital for treatment. This is because doctors must know if you are do to the potential for catastrophic results should you be given penicillin and you are allergic to it. Knowing if they are allergic to penicillin is something every person should know. Penicillin is the most common drug allergy.
It is not clear why some people have an allergic reaction to penicillin while others do not. It is also unknown what predisposes one person with an allergy to penicillin to minor symptoms while another person allergic to it will experience life threatening symptoms. For those who are allergic to penicillin, the only treatment is not to use it. Fortunately there are other powerful antibiotics available to replace penicillin. Prior to their discovery, penicillin allergy could sometimes have grave consequences. It could leave doctors with their hands tied in treating the infection or disease.
Common Penicillin Allergy Symptoms
Common symptoms of penicillin allergy are as follows. A rash or hives that can range from a minor rash to a dark red rash that covers large portions of the body. Swollen lips tongue and face, ranging from minor swelling to extreme swelling. Itchy, irritated eyes that can be bloodshot and watery. The most serious reaction happens in people that are highly allergic to penicillin. An anaphylactic reaction is a reaction that manifests itself as a swelling of the bronchial airway, making it difficult to breath. This can also be accompanied by a sudden drop in blood pressure, resulting in light headedness. This reaction can be deadly, so it’s important to be aware of this fact.
If you are given penicillin and experience any of these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. It’s much better to be safe than sorry. The most serious reaction, the anaphylactic reaction, appears almost immediately. The other less minor reactions can take hours to appear. Treatments for the symptoms are readily available but as of yet there is no cure for the allergy itself. If your child has never been given penicillin it is imperative that you let your doctor know this. He or she can make a determination as to whether or not your child is allergic to it prior to administering a large dose of penicillin.
By: Sven Ullmann
About the Author:
Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about penicillin allergy.
Preventing Cold Sores Is Key
Cold sores are also known as oral herpes and occur because of the viral infection. Attack of herpes simplex viruses causes the cold sores. These viruses enter through the mouth and attacks on the nerve cells. Viruses then travel towards the ganglia by the use of nervous system. In the ganglia these viruses rest and eventually with favorable conditions is activated. Attack of the viruses will be permanent and do not leave the body; therefore it is hard to remove them. Consequently, to stay away from the infection you need to prevent it.
If you find rash that is turning in to blisters around the area of mouth then these blisters are of the cold sores. These blisters eventually turn in to dry slab. This is the first symptom of the infection. Blisters will appear for period and then again disappears. This cycle will continue for moths and years. Reappearance of the blisters depends on the triggering. Therefore, to prevent the blisters we need to keep control over the triggering. If skin is itching, irritating, and tingling, then you have to understand the signals of the blisters. On such skin, apply antiviral cream. To apply the cream first you need to wash your hands. Do not apply cream with hands instead of using hands prefer cotton buds for application.
However, this step seems to be extra precautionary but you have to follow them. Usually viruses attack the body with low immune systems. Therefore, to defense virus body need to be with strong immune system. Tiredness, stress or other illness are the major reasons of low immune. Hence, healthy life can go a long way to prevent blisters out breaks.
Beside these entire if you are already suffering with the infection then you have to take precautionary steps to avoid spreading the infections. However, this disease is not dangerous but is embarrassing. You can prevent spreading of the infection by avoiding kiss. The people suffering with the infection try to avoid kiss or should not engage in oral sex. Rubbing and itching spreads the infection to non-affected area. Therefore, do not touch the cold sores and other area of the skin. In case of touching the blisters, immediately wash the hands to avoid the infection. Not only in these cases but they need to adopt the habit of regular hand washing.
Do not try to hide the cold sores with make up because chemicals use in the cosmetics infects more. To prevent the infection never share the cosmetics mainly lipsticks. Not only the cosmetics but also the persons try to avoid sharing of food, drinks or towels. Regular application of antiviral cream helps in healing and decreases the contamination of the viruses. Herpes simplex viruses are contagious during out breaking but can spreads infection before and after out breaking period. They spread infection in the reproduction period also.