Sulfa allergy : Discover the tell tale signs of an Allergy to Sulfa

When someone is diagnosed as having a sulfa allergy it means that they have an allergic reaction to a group of drugs known as sulfonamides. In this article we take a closer look at this allergy. There are two types of sulfonamides these include antibiotic sulfonamides and non-antibiotic sulfonamides. Sulfa antibiotics are most likely to cause an allergic reaction in an individual with a sulfa allergy. Approximately 3 out of 100 people suffer an allergic reaction after taking sulfa antibiotics, the same amount of people suffer an adverse reaction to penicillin. It has been noted that some people have a higher chance of having a sulfa allergy, such as people who suffer from problems with their immune system.

The most common symptom of a sulfa allergy is a skin reaction these include hives rashes, photo sensitivity and Stevens - Johnson syndrome which is a life threatening condition. Other common symptoms of an allergic reaction to sulfa medications include:

Liver and Kidney damage:

Some people develop a form of hepatitis as a result of their adverse reaction; this in turn can lead to kidney failure.

Blood Problems:

Sulfur allergy is capable of reducing the amount of white and red blood cells as well as platelets, which can cause all sorts of problems.

Breathing problems:

An allergy to sulfa can also worsen asthma and cause symptoms similar to those suffered by people with pneumonia. This is due to its effect on the lungs. Usually an allergy can be diagnosed by the use of skin or blood tests, however these can not be used to diagnose a sulfa allergy. The diagnosis is based purely on the symptoms that are displayed by the individual.

Once it has been established that an individual is allergic to sulfa the next step is to treat this allergy. The first thing a sufferer will be told to do is to stop using the sulfa medication. The symptoms of the reaction are then treated. There are some cases where an individual that is allergic to sulfa medication has no choice but to use this type of medication. When this happens the individual has to be desensitized to this type of medication. This can be achieved by giving the individual small amounts of the medication and gradually building up this amount over a period of time so that the body can tolerate it.

Furthermore not everyone who suffers from a sulfa allergy is advised to stop taking medication, sometimes it is better for them to keep taking it cautiously under supervision despite its side effects. Outlined below are some the medications that contain sulfa, these should be avoided if you suffer from sulfa allergy: These include sulfa antibiotics, celebrex, diuretics, and zonisamide amongst many others. If you suffer an allergic reaction to a sulfa based medication or any form of medication you are strongly advised to seek medical help. This is the only way you will be able to reduce your chances of having another allergic reaction in future.

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