antibiotic allergies/itching/rashes

[kim]

12+ years ago, i was taking an antibiotic for a sore throat/respiratory infection. About 4 or 5 days after finishing the antibiotic, i started itching all over. My head itched too.

Went back to Dr. and he said that we had to assume it was an allergic reaction to amoxicillan. I asked if that could happen that long after finishing and he said we had to assume yes, and not to take any form of penicillan again. No rash of any kind with that episode. Took some zyrtec and that was end of it.

 

I had developed a small itchy read spot on the back of my head/neck in my early 20's. No big deal, just used OTC cortizone cream occasionally. At some point, I got the spot on my elbow, which over the years did get quite big. Again, used mostly OTC cortizone and zinc oxide was pretty effective too.

 

Then this past winter, I got the full body rash with an infection (strep strongly suspected) on that elbow. Within 24 hours of noticing red itchy bumps btwn my wrist and elbow, I was started on Prednisone & Keflex and a topical steroid. Probably a week+ into the rash, my head looked like a had a horrendous case of dandruff. Itchy, flacky mess. This type of psoriasis reaction is described by some on a psoriasis web group that I have been reading. Many have made the strep connection there too and it is recognized by some derms, except the ignorant ones who only know how to prescribe steroids and don't even realize the published studies showing the strep connection, again in some cases. Some derms have told patients that it crazy to think antibiotics would be helpful. I've read there that "in the old days" derms used to treat psoriasis with antibiotics frequently. With the steroid creams and fancy new drugs (TNF blockers etc.) it just isn't done much anymore. It makes me sad to think of how many people there might be on the "treat the symptom" highway, without getting to the underlying cause too. Some of the things used to treat psoriasis have some very nasty side effects.

 

So, I ran across this just a few days ago, and it really got me wondering. Remember, I had no signs of psoriasis until I was around 21? bolding mine

 

http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/clei/abstract...#33;8091!-1

 

Antibodies from patients with psoriasis recognize N-acetylglucosamine terminals in glycoproteins from Pityrosporum ovale.

 

Pityrosporum ovale, aka Malassezia (from wiki)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malassezia

 

Malassezia (formerly known as Pityrosporum) is a genus of related fungi, classified as yeasts, naturally found on the skin surfaces of many animals including humans. It can cause hypopigmentation on the chest or back if it becomes an opportunistic infection.

 

Again, I've never had an invasive infection or anything that caused hypopigmentation before. But, I'm wondering if the antibiotic caused a disruption of skin flora which allowed this yeast to get out of control, or if there was just a hyper immune reaction to what is naturally there anyway, brought on by the antibodies produced in relationship to the original infection.

 

When reading the study cited above, it says that sera from psoriasis patients were the ones who reacted this way, so I guess you would have to have the psoriasis factor there.

My parents or siblings don't have psoriasis.

 

Just wanted to share this, as I think it might be something to consider, since I see allergies to this and that medication mentioned here (seems) frequently. I don't think my reaction was related to amox. I think it was related to the infection (strep?) that caused the illness in the first place. Also, this makes me wonder how yeast/fungal infections could play into this whole thing.

[kim]

something about Malassezia in relationship to eczema.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16354952?dopt=Abstract

 

The role of sensitization to Malassezia sympodialis in atopic eczema.

 

Phylogenetically conserved allergen structures, such as manganese superoxide dismutase, may play a role as cross-reactive allergens in a subset of AE patients as a result of molecular mimicry and cross-reactivity with structurally related human proteins and might contribute to the perpetuation of the inflammatory skin reactions. The use of recombinant Malassezia allergens will contribute to elucidate the pathways of sensitization occurring in AE, the underlying immunological mechanisms governing IgE- and T-cell-mediated responses and may provide new therapeutic options to alleviate Malassezia-related symptoms in AE.

 

 

I haven't read this yet, but plan to tonight. I'm suddenly remembering a little boy with horribly itchy ears. Somehow, I think I'm going to find that this was related

 

http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/15/1/21.pdf

 

Immunology of Diseases Associated with Malassezia Species