Antibiotic-Associated Reactions

Getting a Consultation for Children who are Experiencing any Antibiotic-Associated Allergy Symptoms

Opportunities for the same-day or next-day consultations are provided for patients who are currently experiencing a reaction while taking an antibiotic (such as amoxicillin, cefdinir, bactrim sulfa, or azithromycin). Many of these children go to the emergency room to be seen, with up to 40% of infants returning for a second visit within 24 hours if their condition has not improved. These children may now be seen at the PATS outpatient clinic either in person or by telemedicine.

For more information, call 513-517-7287 (PATS) or send an email to PATS@cchmc.org.

Dr. Risma says, "Every day, patients come to the emergency room who are being treated with amoxicillin and have a rash like hives and perhaps lip or eye swelling. In the winter, it may be 2 or 3 patients a day, and they often return the next day with more concerns. We intentionally hold appointment spots open for patients who have an urgent need to be seen. Usually, caregivers simply need a clear plan for symptom relief, reassurance with the appearance of new symptoms, and information on how long the condition will last."

Learn more about serum sickness-like reactions (SSLR), in which the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies a substance (commonly an injectable medicine) as harmful.