Severe Urticaria Following Erythromycin Therapy

Abstract

Enythromycin is believed to cause no serlous reactions after large doses, nausea, rarely vomiting and occasionally abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur, (Herrell, 1954). According to' Kagan and Faller (1955) no allergic reaction to' erythromycin has been reported. Phlebitis and thrombosis have been observed, (Shoe maker & Yow, 1954). In a report by Solomon and Johnson, (1955) toxic reactions were recorded as being uncommon. In a large series of cases, only one patient had a rash, another had fever possibly due to the drug, nne had nausea and vomiting and 4 had loose bowel movements while under therapy. Among the 122 patients treated with erythromcin, therapy was stopped owing to side effects in only one. My patient had severe urticaria within 24 hours of beginning therapy with erythromycin and a positive skin test was observed. It was believed to be an allergic reaction caused by the drug.