Drug allergy: diagnosis and management

Abstract

Drug allergy is one of the most commonly encountered medical problems in family practice. The symptoms may range from trivial to life threatening. As drug use continues to increase, the incidence of drug allergies will also continue to rise. Many drugs are available without doctors' prescriptions, which further increase the risk of fatal reactions. Drug allergy can become a major problem for patients with the multiple drug allergy syndrome, and more so with the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms that limits the choice of antibiotics available. This article reviews the current understanding in the mechanisms of drug allergy, the management of patients with allergy to commonly used drugs such as penicillins, NSAIDs, local anaesthetics and radiocontrast media. After reading this article, the reader should be able to recognise patients at high risk of serious drug reactions and to formulate a management plan for such patients.