چكيده لاتين :
Background: Serum sickness is a type III hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immune-
complex deposition with subsequent complement activation, small- vessel vasculitis, and
tissue inflammation. Disease is caused by exposure to foreign proteins, equine diphtheria antitoxin. However, sporadic cases of serum sickness from non-protein antibiotics such as penicillins continue to occur.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in 28 children who were admitted because of serum sickness in Mofid Children Hospital since April 2005 to September 2007.
Findings: Of 28 cases included in our study, 17 were male and 11 female. 24 of the 28 cases (86%) aged less than five years old. In 25 of the 28 patients (89%), the onset of symptoms occurred 1-3 weeks after administration of the inciting antigen, in two patients less than one week, and in one patient more than three weeks. Associated symptoms included arthritis 36%, subjective fever 75%, arthralgia 85%, skin rash and angioedema 100% were observed during admission. Furazolidone was the most common cause of disease in this study.
Conclusion: The incidence of serum sickness is decreasing as a result of public health vaccination programs that have decreased the need for specific antitoxins. However, currently, non-protein drugs such as furazolidone are the most common causes of serum
• ORIGINAL ARTICLE CODE:()55
A study of patients admitted with serum sickness in Mofid children Hospital from (April 2005 to September 2007)
^Correspondentʹs Address;
Shariati Ave, Hossinieh Ershad, 1546815514, Mofid Children Hospital, Tehran- Iran Tele: 021-22227033
sickness-like reactions.
