Corticosteroid creams or ointments or other soothing skin medications may relieve discomfort from itching and rash.

Antihistamines may shorten the length of illness and help ease rash and itching.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may relieve joint pain. Corticosteroids taken by mouth (such as prednisone) may be prescribed for severe cases.

Medications causing the problem should be stopped, and future use of the medication or antiserum should be avoided.

The symptoms usually go away within a few days.

If the drug or antiserum that caused serum sickness is used again in the future, your risk of having another similar reaction is quite high.

Complications include:

• Anaphylactic shock, an immediate, life-threatening reaction
• Inflammation of the blood vessels
• Swelling of the face, arms, and legs

Call your health care provider if medication or antiserum has been given within the last 4 weeks and symptoms of serum sickness appear.

Images

Antibodies

Review Date: 05/02/2010
Reviewed By: Stuart I. Henochowicz, MD, FACP, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Georgetown University Medical School; and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)