Question 1

whats serum sickness?

Accepted Answer

Systemic allergic : Systemic allergic response in which antibody-antigen reaction in the blood stream causes systemic problems.

Question 2

can serum sickness be cured?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The most common treatment for serum sickness is discontinuation of the offending drug, combined with the use of both antihistamines and glucocorticoids. Withdrawal of the drug by itself is usually sufficient treatment for patients with mild symptoms. Fever and joint pains resolve within 48 hours. To prevent recurrence, the culprit drug should be avoided in the future, if possible.

Question 3

how can i treat serum sickness?

Accepted Answer

Avoidance: Not much can be done specifically to treat serum sickness, other than avoiding the antigen that caused it in the first place. If there is significant joint or other inflammation, steroids can help reduce the symptoms while waiting for the reaction to go away.

Question 4

can you die from serum sickness?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately...Yes: Serum sickness got it's name from reactions after treatments with high doses of horse serum given for treatments snake bites or tetanus. Antibiotics can also cause this. The persons antibodies clump with the foreign serum proteins.  These clumps (immune complexes) can clog small blood vessels in the skin, mucous membranes, joints, kidneys and intestines. Fulminant severe reaction can be fatal.

Question 5

has anyone else had  serum sickness?

Accepted Answer

Serum Sickness: Serum sickness is a reaction that is similar to an allergy. The immune system reacts to medications that contain injected proteins used to treat immune conditions. Or it can react to antiserum, the liquid part of blood that contains antibodies given to a person to help protect them against germs or poisonous substances.

Question 6

can i die from serum sickness if i ignore it?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Serum sickness can lead to organ damage and vascular collapse if the offending agent is not stopped.  Normally however it is a self-limited syndrome which resolves after the offending agent is removed.

Question 7

are some people more prone to getting serum sickness?

Accepted Answer

Serum sickness: Classic serum sickness is caused by administration of a protein antigen from a non-human species. There have been some case reports implicating the drugs Rituximab and Infliximab (used to treat chron's disease and rheumatoid arthritis). Rarely, repeated blood transfusions, insect stings, and mosquito bites can cause serum sickness-type reactions.

Question 8

what are the differences between arthrus reaction and serum sickness?

Accepted Answer

Similar: Both are type III hypersensitivity or allergic reactions that occur from antibody antigen complexes.  The arthus reaction typically occurs after an injection into the skin and the reaction is vasculitis at the site.  Serum sickness commonly follows an oral ingestion (like a drug) and symptoms are more general with fever, rash, joint aches, lymph node swelling and sometimes protein in the urine.

Question 9

what part of the classical complement pathway is affected in chronic serum sickness?  i read that c3 was low in this case.  anything else in general?

Accepted Answer

See below: C3, c4, and ch50 can be low in serum sickness.

Question 10

had serum sickness from penicillin allergy 25 yrs ago. i was thinking of being tested to see if i still have it. could this go away after all these yrs. is it worth being tested?

Accepted Answer

: It's not worth to try unless you really need to be treated with Penicillin. Take care.

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Doctor answers about:

Medicine for serum sickness

A member asked:

Whats serum sickness?

A member asked:

Can serum sickness be cured?

A member asked:

How can i treat serum sickness?

A member asked:

Can you die from serum sickness?

A member asked:

Has anyone else had serum sickness?

A member asked:

Can i die from serum sickness if i ignore it?

A member asked:

Are some people more prone to getting serum sickness?

A member asked:

What are the differences between arthrus reaction and serum sickness?

A member asked:

What part of the classical complement pathway is affected in chronic serum sickness? i read that c3 was low in this case. anything else in general?

A member asked:

Had serum sickness from penicillin allergy 25 yrs ago. i was thinking of being tested to see if i still have it. could this go away after all these yrs. is it worth being tested?

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