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Serum sickness

Treatment:

Corticosteroid creams or ointments or other soothing skin medications may relieve discomfort from itching and rash.

Antihistamines may shorten the length of illness and help ease rash and itching.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may relieve joint pain. Corticosteroids taken by mouth (such as prednisone) may be prescribed for severe cases.

Medications causing the problem should be stopped and future use of the medication or antiserum should be avoided.

Expectations (prognosis):

The symptoms usually go away within a few days.

Complications:

If the drug or antiserum that caused serum sickness is used again in the future, your risk of having another similar reaction is quite high.

Complications include anaphylactic shock , an immediate reaction with more severe symptoms.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if medication or antiserum has been given within the last 2 weeks and symptoms of serum sickness appear.

Antibodies

Review Date: 5/30/2007
Reviewed By: Donald Accetta, MD, MPH, President, Allergy & Asthma Care, PC, Taunton, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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