Question

1. A patient takes penicillin for the 1^st time as a child, and then a year later is prescribed the same drug for an ear infection. This time the child shows a strange reaction that same day several hours after taking the drug. The child shows increased bruising and generally feels very tired. Upon testing at a hospital with a CBC on the patient’s blood, the platelet count is very low.

A) What form of hypersensitivity is likely at work in this patient? (4pts)

B) what is the most likely explanation for how penicillin triggered the hypersensitivity? There is a specific term for this mechanism that you should mention for full credit. Explain what the penicillin does at the molecular level to trigger this response. (4pts)

Answer 1

1) solu :

• In this case the child develope the incidence of anaphylaxis to penicillin and is mediated by a Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction.

2) solu :

• Penicillin allergy is an abnormal reaction of immune system to the antibiotic drug penicillin.
• Seious allergic reactions to penicillin are type 1 and mediated by IgE .This is due to IgEmediated reactions due to high dose of parenteral administration or repetitive dosing of penicillins.
• The penicillin has core beta alctam and thiazolidine ring structures but a different side chains.
• The ring structure metabolised into major and minor detrminates.
• Immediate reactions are the result of IgE that cross like on mast cells when exposed to antigenic component..results in degranulation and release of histamine.
• it is the minor antigenic determinates that generate IgE specific responses that are associated with penicillin allergy.