Anaphylactoid Reaction to Penicillins V and G Administered Orally

Abstract

IT is now well known and frequently reported that anaphylactic reactions to parenteral injections of penicillin occur1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 and that the mortality may be as high as 30 per cent.1 , 6 There is, however, less awareness of the fact that this type of reaction can also be caused by tablets,8 9 10 11 12 13 14 lozenges,15 , 16 aerosol spray,4 paranasal-sinus irrigation,17 , 18 ophthalmic ointment,19 contaminated syringes20 , 21 and skin testing.20 21 22 A review of the medical literature in English up to the present time reveals 9 cases actually reported and 2 others8 , 14 alluded to that were due to oral tablets, in addition to 2 cases due to lozenges (Table 1).The . . .