Sulfa Allergy Symptoms

Sulfa allergy refers to the medical condition, caused as a result of the body's sensitivity to sulfonamide compound. Chemically, sulfonamide is a para-amino benzoic acid derivative. Previously, sulfa containing drugs were commonly prescribed for addressing infectious diseases. Today, they are used less frequently mainly because of sulfa allergy, reported by many patients who administered the same therapeutic drugs.

Sulfonamide is used in some of the antibiotics (especially those taken for urinary tract infection), diuretics, anti-inflammatory drug, and diabetic medicine. In short, some of the sulfonamide medications are prescription antibiotics, while others are different and non-antibiotic formulations.

As per estimation, about three percent people have problems with sulfa antibiotics. The adverse effects of antibiotic and non-antibiotic sulfa drugs may not be the same.

As per health experts, sulfa allergy is an immune-mediated problem. Hence, patients of autoimmune diseases, HIV/AIDS, and those having a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of manifesting sulfa allergy symptoms than others. In some people, the drugs are metabolized in an abnormally slow rate, causing negative effects.

The reason for allergic response to sulfa drugs may be due to binding of sulfa compounds with the proteins of the body. Some of the noticeable symptoms of sulfa allergy are listed here.

People having an allergy to sulfonamide drugs experience skin problems after taking these medications. The notable skin symptoms are generalized skin irritation, rashes, and hives. Some patients complain of increased sensitivity to light or photosensitivity.

Another indication that signifies sulfa drugs allergy is breathing difficulty. Within a few hours of ingesting medicine, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath may be manifested by patients, who have allergy to sulfonamide drugs.

These problems are exclusive to people who have both conditions, an allergy to sulfa drugs and an underlying respiratory tract problem. After administration of the drugs, the patients may exhibit symptoms similar to pneumonia and exacerbated asthma.

As stated already, sulfa drug allergy is related to hypersensitive immune responses. Hence, symptoms of sulfa allergy include abnormal blood reactions, including reduced blood cells (both white blood cells and red blood cells) and blood platelets.

This condition is mainly associated with severe cases of allergies. A patient with anaphylaxis manifests nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, and loss of consciousness. Such symptoms are life-threatening, hence immediate medical attention is necessary.

Very rarely, administration of sulfonamide drugs is associated with damage to the internal organs, like kidney and liver. In some patients who are allergic to sulfa drugs, adopting the same medication therapy may result in hepatitis, liver damage, and kidney failure.

People who are taking sulfonamide drugs should consult the doctor at the first manifestation of sulfa allergy symptoms or suspected cases.

There is no test procedure for identification of this adverse medicine effect. Hence, diagnosis is based on the medical history and ingested drugs by the patient. For sulfa allergy treatment, the first and foremost step taken is stopping the allergenic drugs immediately. Further therapeutic intervention is proceeded for managing the allergy symptoms.

For people who are allergic to sulfa drugs, the doctor may suggest desensitization process in order to prevent allergy incidences in future. In this therapeutic approach, sulfonamide drug is administered in a low dose in the initial stage, which is increased gradually with time.

The objective is to make the immune system used to the drug. After this, treatment involving sulfonamide medication can be followed for the patients without major health effects.