Ronia is prescribed penicillin to treat an infection. She last took penicillin two years earlier for the first time and suffered no allergic reaction. However, with this round of penicillin treatment, she is experiencing hives, rash and wheezing. What happened?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario described suggests that Ronia has developed an IgE-mediated allergic reaction to penicillin after a prior "sensitizing dose" of the drug. In a sensitizing dose, the immune system recognizes the drug as foreign and begins developing IgE antibodies in response. The IgE antibodies can then react with the drug upon subsequent exposure, leading to an allergic reaction. This type of reaction is known as a type I hypersensitivity reaction.

Ronia Is Prescribed Penicillin to Treat an Infection