BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSerum sicknessDrug allergy - serum sickness; Allergic reaction - serum sickness; Allergy - serum sicknessSerum sickness is a reaction that is similar to an allergy. The immune system reacts to medicines that contain proteins used to treat immune conditions. It can also react to antiserum, the liquid part of blood that contains antibodies given to a person to help protect them against germs or poisonous substances.AllergyAn allergy is an immune response or reaction to substances that are usually not harmful.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Immune system reactsThe immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Plasma is the clear fluid portion of blood. It does not contain blood cells. But it does contain many proteins, including antibodies, which are formed as part of the immune response to protect against infection.Antiserum is produced from the plasma of a person or animal that has immunity against an infection or poisonous substance. Antiserum may be used to protect a person who has been exposed to a germ or toxin. For example, you may receive a certain type of antiserum injection:If you have been exposed to tetanus or rabies and have never been vaccinated against these germs. This is called passive immunization. TetanusTetanus is an infection of the nervous system with a type of bacteria that is potentially deadly, called Clostridium tetani (C tetani).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article RabiesRabies is a deadly viral infection that is mainly spread by infected animals.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have been bitten by a snake that produces a dangerous toxin.During serum sickness, the immune system falsely identifies a protein in antiserum as a harmful substance (antigen). The result is an immune system response that attacks the antiserum. Immune system elements and the antiserum combine to form immune complexes, which cause the symptoms of serum sickness.AntigenAn antigen is any substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it. This means your immune system does not recognize the su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines (such as penicillin, cefaclor, and sulfa) can cause a similar reaction.Injected proteins such as antithymocyte globulin (used to treat organ transplant rejection) and rituximab (used to treat immune disorders and cancers) can cause serum sickness reactions.Blood products may also cause serum sickness. Symptoms Unlike other drug allergies, which occur very soon after receiving the medicine, serum sickness develops 7 to 21 days after the first exposure to a medicine. Some people develop symptoms in 1 to 3 days if they have already been exposed to the medicine.Drug allergiesDrug allergies are a group of symptoms caused by an allergic reaction to a drug (medicine).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms of serum sickness can include:Fever General ill feeling Hives HivesHives are raised, often itchy, red bumps (welts) on the surface of the skin. They can be an allergic reaction to food or medicine. They can also ap...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Itching Joint pain Rash Swollen lymph nodes Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform an exam to look for lymph nodes that are enlarged and tender to the touch.Tests that may be done include:Urine test Blood test Treatment Medicines, such as corticosteroids, applied to the skin may relieve discomfort from itching and a rash.Antihistamines may shorten the length of the illness and help ease a rash and itching.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may relieve joint pain. Corticosteroids taken by mouth may be prescribed for severe cases.The medicine that caused the problem should be stopped. Avoid using that medicine or antiserum in the future. Outlook (Prognosis) The symptoms usually go away within a few days. Possible Complications If you use the drug or antiserum that caused serum sickness again in the future, your risk of having another similar reaction is high.Complications include:Inflammation of the blood vessels Swelling of the face, arms, and legs (angioedema)AngioedemaAngioedema is swelling that is similar to hives, but the swelling is under the skin instead of on the surface. Hives are often called welts. They a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you received medicine or antiserum in the last 4 weeks and have symptoms of serum sickness. Prevention There is no known way to prevent the development of serum sickness. People who have had serum sickness or drug allergy should avoid future use of the antiserum or drug.Open ReferencesReferencesFrank MM, Hester CG. Immune complexes and allergic disease. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 37.Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Sicherer SH. Serum sickness. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 175.AllVideoImagesTogAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationRelated Information Immune response(Special Topic)Antibody(Special Topic)Protein in diet(Nutrition)Tetanus(Condition)Rabies(Condition)Allergies(Condition)Antigen(Special Topic)Drug allergies(Condition)Anaphylaxis(Condition)Allergic rhinitis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/25/2022 Reviewed By: Stuart I. Henochowicz, MD, FACP, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Serum sicknessDrug allergy - serum sickness; Allergic reaction - serum sickness; Allergy - serum sicknessSerum sickness is a reaction that is similar to an allergy. The immune system reacts to medicines that contain proteins used to treat immune conditions. It can also react to antiserum, the liquid part of blood that contains antibodies given to a person to help protect them against germs or poisonous substances.AllergyAn allergy is an immune response or reaction to substances that are usually not harmful.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Immune system reactsThe immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Plasma is the clear fluid portion of blood. It does not contain blood cells. But it does contain many proteins, including antibodies, which are formed as part of the immune response to protect against infection.Antiserum is produced from the plasma of a person or animal that has immunity against an infection or poisonous substance. Antiserum may be used to protect a person who has been exposed to a germ or toxin. For example, you may receive a certain type of antiserum injection:If you have been exposed to tetanus or rabies and have never been vaccinated against these germs. This is called passive immunization. TetanusTetanus is an infection of the nervous system with a type of bacteria that is potentially deadly, called Clostridium tetani (C tetani).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article RabiesRabies is a deadly viral infection that is mainly spread by infected animals.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have been bitten by a snake that produces a dangerous toxin.During serum sickness, the immune system falsely identifies a protein in antiserum as a harmful substance (antigen). The result is an immune system response that attacks the antiserum. Immune system elements and the antiserum combine to form immune complexes, which cause the symptoms of serum sickness.AntigenAn antigen is any substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it. This means your immune system does not recognize the su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines (such as penicillin, cefaclor, and sulfa) can cause a similar reaction.Injected proteins such as antithymocyte globulin (used to treat organ transplant rejection) and rituximab (used to treat immune disorders and cancers) can cause serum sickness reactions.Blood products may also cause serum sickness. Symptoms Unlike other drug allergies, which occur very soon after receiving the medicine, serum sickness develops 7 to 21 days after the first exposure to a medicine. Some people develop symptoms in 1 to 3 days if they have already been exposed to the medicine.Drug allergiesDrug allergies are a group of symptoms caused by an allergic reaction to a drug (medicine).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms of serum sickness can include:Fever General ill feeling Hives HivesHives are raised, often itchy, red bumps (welts) on the surface of the skin. They can be an allergic reaction to food or medicine. They can also ap...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Itching Joint pain Rash Swollen lymph nodes Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform an exam to look for lymph nodes that are enlarged and tender to the touch.Tests that may be done include:Urine test Blood test Treatment Medicines, such as corticosteroids, applied to the skin may relieve discomfort from itching and a rash.Antihistamines may shorten the length of the illness and help ease a rash and itching.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may relieve joint pain. Corticosteroids taken by mouth may be prescribed for severe cases.The medicine that caused the problem should be stopped. Avoid using that medicine or antiserum in the future. Outlook (Prognosis) The symptoms usually go away within a few days. Possible Complications If you use the drug or antiserum that caused serum sickness again in the future, your risk of having another similar reaction is high.Complications include:Inflammation of the blood vessels Swelling of the face, arms, and legs (angioedema)AngioedemaAngioedema is swelling that is similar to hives, but the swelling is under the skin instead of on the surface. Hives are often called welts. They a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you received medicine or antiserum in the last 4 weeks and have symptoms of serum sickness. Prevention There is no known way to prevent the development of serum sickness. People who have had serum sickness or drug allergy should avoid future use of the antiserum or drug.Open ReferencesReferencesFrank MM, Hester CG. Immune complexes and allergic disease. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 37.Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Sicherer SH. Serum sickness. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 175.