What is Serum Sickness?
Definition 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, which may be given to provide immunization against some diseases. Description Serum sickness is very similar to an allergic reaction. The patient’s immune system recognizes the proteins in the drug or antiserum as foreign proteins, and produces its own antibodies to protect against the foreign proteins. The newly formed antibodies bind with the foreign protein to form immune complexes. These immune complexes may enter the walls of blood vessels where they set off an inflammatory reaction. 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. Causes and symptoms The usual symptoms are severe skin reactions, often on the palms of the hands and soles
• Serum sickness: Type of allergic reaction to certain medications or serums. • Serum sickness: immune complex disease caused by the administration of foreign serum or serum proteins and characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, and urticaria; when they are complexed to protein carriers, some drugs can also cause serum sickness when they act as haptens inducing antibody responses. Source – Diseases Database • Serum sickness: a delayed allergic reaction to the injection of an antiserum caused by an antibody reaction to an antigen in the donor serum. Source – WordNet 2.
Sometimes doctors use serum, a blood product, from people or animals to derive medications that can help prevent serious infections. This is called an antiserum and it boosts immune response or prevents infection from certain diseases. Some basic immunizations are made with antiserum, like tetanus vaccinations. Though rare, people will occasionally have almost an “allergic” response to injections with a specific antiserum. What happens is the body makes an interpretation mistake, and begins to view proteins in the serum as foreign and harmful, and thus it begins to attack them. What occurs next is serum sickness, or an inflammatory response to the body’s incorrect perception that it is fighting something harmful. The illness may sometimes also result from blood transfusions or use of other blood products like platelet transfusions. Serum sickness can occur between a weeks to three weeks after receiving an injection with an antiserum, though it sometimes occurs more quickly. Common symp
Serum sickness can be developed as a result of exposure to antibodies derived from animals. These serums are generally administered in order to prevent or treat an infection or envenomation. When the antiserum is given, the human immune system can mistake the proteins present for harmful antigens. The body produces antibodies, which combine with these proteins to form immune complexes. These complexes can cause more reactions, and cause the symptoms detailed below. Serum sickness can also be caused by several drugs, notably penicillin based medicines. This result in hypocomplementemia, a low C3 level in serum. Serum sickness is a reaction to proteins in antiserum derived from an animal source. It is a type of hypersensitivity, specifically immune complex (type 3) hypersensitivity. FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE VISIT :http://en.wikipedia.
Serum sickness is a reaction similar to an allergy. … Antihistamines may shorten the length of illness and help ease rash and itching. … • Serum sickness Blood products may also induce serum sickness. … Antihistamines may shorten the duration of illness and help to relieve rash and itching. … • Serum Sickness Medical Information A person with serum sickness has an immune system reaction after taking a … Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, may be given to reduce itching and … • serum sickness Serum sickness is what is called an “immune complex” disease. … Serum sickness usually begins about 7 … The usual treatment is aspirin and antihistamines. … • Serum Sickness – LIVESTRONG.COM Serum sickness is a hypersensitivity reaction similar to an allergy. … Antihistamines may shorten the length of illness and help ease rash and itching. … • Serum Sickness Background: Serum sickness is a type III hypersensitivity reaction that results … Prophylactic antihistamines ma
