What cures a person kills the other. The principle of drug administration requires delicate handling and careful assessment before giving any form of medication to a person. The health sector is quite alarmed by the increasing number of self-medicating people taking medicines ranging from simple pain relievers, cough medication, anti-allergies to antibiotics. Without proper knowledge, self administration of drugs could possibly lead to mutations of etiologic agents of various diseases, and even fatal allergic reactions to the person who has been sensitized to it.

What you should know

Virtually anything that gains access to, but is not a normal constituent of the body is considered by the immune system as an invader. Even the drugs that we consider our savior could potentially bring us harm, however the reaction may vary among individuals.

Dermatitis medicamentosa is the term applied to eruption of skin rashes due to the administration of certain medications. It is the most common side effect of medications and occurs in 3% of hospitalized patients. They are milder form of drug allergies than the life-threatening anaphylaxis. The rashes occur as a result of histamine release from most cells during an allergic reaction.

What your Doctor can do for you

Upon noticing the reaction, the person must be warned not to take the medication again. They must be informed that they have an allergy to that drug, and further treatment could induce more fatal reactions. This is the reason why in the hospital setting, it is strongly recommended that a person will undergo skin tests to determine any allergic reactions before being prescribed with an antibiotic (and some other medication forms). If the medicine has already been administered, the medication should be immediately withdrawn, and the person is given antihistamines to manage the symptoms.

What you can do

Any person who has experienced a drug reaction to certain medicine should be carrying information identifying the hypersensitivity at all times, such as Medic Alert bracelet. Prompt reporting of the appearance of any skin eruptions is important so that early interventions can be started. As much as possible avoid self medication of drugs known to cause an allergic reaction like antibiotics, analgesics, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, and iodine.