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A member asked:
Can you die from serum sickness?
11 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
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.
Answered 11/5/2015
6k views
No: Serum sickness is a delayed type of allergic reaction as opposed to anaphylaxis or allergic shock which is an immediate type of life threatening reaction. Usual symptoms are hives, muscle aches, joint pains or swellings, low grade fever and swelling of lymph glands. Any antibiotics or other medicines can cause it. Skin symptoms may last for several weeks. Antihistamines and steroid medicines help.
Answered 4/6/2018
6k views
Related Questions
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What are the differences between arthrus reaction and serum sickness?
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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?
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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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A member asked:
4yr old son has serum sickness, hives are getting worse and ankles are swollen, ive been giving him ben. And mot. Is there something else for itching?
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A member asked:
I had what was thought to be serum sickness 20 yrs ago from penicillin. Is it worth to go through penicillin allergy testing now to see if I perhaps still have that allergy?
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