The Applicability of Skin Tests for Sulfonamide Hypersensitivity in Children

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Abstract
Leftwich (1) has reported an intradermal test to indicate the state of hypersensitivity to the sulfonamide drugs in adults. The following observations represent an unsuccessful attempt to confirm the conclusions of Leftwich in children. Few children show apparent hypersensitivity reactions during the administration of the sulfonamide drugs. Fink and Smith (2) estimate the number of such children to be less than 1 per cent of those receiving these drugs. These hypersensitive children generally show during the course of sulfonamide administration unexplained fever, or fever and rash, which disappears when the drug is discontinued. About half of the children showing such reactions will show an immediate recurrence of the fever or the rash when even small amounts of the same drug are readministered at a later date. Some of these immediate reactions are severe and alarming. An immediate reaction definitely contraindidicates any further administration of that particular sulfonamide to the patient.

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