Amoxicillan Allertic Reaction

Updated on January 05, 2008
H.K. asks from Jacksonville, FL
19 answers

My husband and I went on Mamasource last night to look up allergies. Wonderful source of info of all the other parents who have been through this rash/hives - whatever it is. A quick up to date would be yesterday our little girl woke up with 5 bumps. 1 on her arm, 3 on her but and one on her eye. (She has a double ear infection and has been on the Amox for 1 week as of yesterday). By the afternoon she had about 30 different spots. They look like a bug bite that is raised, then the bump flattens out and gets red or even some are purple. They stretch and blotch together. We called the Dr. and she said to give her some Benedryl - we did but it didn't seem to help. By last night she was covered - her entire face, both ears are beat red. We went to CVS and Walgreens last night and saw the Pharmacists to ask them...one said GO TO THE ER! The other said - a drug reaction....My question is....now this morning our Dr.s office called and said to give her the Benadryl again and they'd call me in two hours to see if they have gotten worse or better (they think they are hives). BUT - around one of her eyes, her face is swelling and they totally took over her knees and they were beat red last night and hot. Now they are turning blue....- WHAT IS THE BLUE? and does hives cause the swelling also? I just don't know. The blue is concerning me.....

Now our daughter has white white skin, blue eyes and red hair. I've heard from a friend children with white fair skin seems to get things worse than children who have darker (tan) skin??

Any suggestions on the blue or swelling with hives would be great. I'm kinda on the fence as to call them and demand an appointment.....her poor little ears are all beat read and swelling inside. SHE DOES SEEM NORMAL though....she probably just looks worse than she is. BUT it's the blue on her knees and the swelling that is concerning to us. I wish we could post pictures on this - everyone would be like GET THAT CHILD TO THE DR.'s.

Well, they just called and agreed to see her....the Benedryl isn't helping but they didn't say anything about the blue knees or swelling. I guess I'll post when I return to let people know what they said. Like I said, the info last night was incredible on the Mamasource to help my husband and I feel better....(like not going to the ER at midnight and dragging my 6 year old out of bed).

If anyone wants to comment on the swelling and if they've experienced the blue color that would help others probably.

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So What Happened?

Sophie has Erythema Multiforme.....(look it up!) It'a a crazy allergic reaction to the cillins (Amoxicillin was hers). Hopefully we are over the worst of it. It can last 2- 4 weeks and they don't even know really what causes it or how long she will continue to break out. She has the most minor case of it thank goodness!

Thank you all for all your support. Everyday she is getting less and less blotchy, blue and swollen!

CRAZY!

For pictures that look almost exact go to: http://dermnetnz.org/reactions/erythema-multiforme.html (start at left and go across, then back to beginning left. Pictures 6&7 are exact).

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K.S.

answers from Tampa on

I have never heard of such an outbreak, but I have heard, too, about lighter skinned people having more sensitivities, etc. My daughter is allergic to penicillin products. She got bumps on her back the first time we gave it to her. She now doesn't take any penicillin products at all. Hope all works out just fine. Glad you are taking her to the dr. Let us know.

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P.N.

answers from Tampa on

Find another pediatrician. I go to My Pediatrics in New Tampa. They are great. They are open 7 days a week. Considering the severity of the rash, and the ineffectiveness of Benadryl, they should have been demanding you come in. Good Grief!

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M.H.

answers from Sarasota on

It is very common to have a reaction to amox., my son did as well. The only way to stop it is to stop the amox! Your doctor sounds like a putz, I would get a new one. However, your daughter's reaction seems more serious. Anytime things start turning blue, you go to the ER!! This seems like a very serious reaction and I wouldn't wait around anymore. Your should have gone a couple days ago, but go now! Stop the amox right away too! The usual alergic reaction is the rash you mentioned and you need to document it in her chart so they never give it to her again. It could also mean she is allergic to penicilin which is why it needs to be documented. Swelling and blueness puts things at another level, so please go to the ER if your doctor is still being useless. Let us know how she does!!

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T.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I'm glad to hear that she saw the doc and you now know what's going on. It's just me but I would always go to the e.r. I agree with whoever posted you should get a new doc. They were very slow to respond and with the number of good docs out there it doesn't make sense to see a doctor that is not proactive. Also, try Aveeno oatmeal bath and have her sit in it for at least 20 minutes. Just try to get as much of the mixture on her as you can. She will feel so much better and the bumps etc should start diminishing. The generic brands are just as good as Aveeno just check the ingredients. This stuff really helped us out. I hope she feels and looks better soon. I know it's scary.

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K.J.

answers from Tampa on

I would take her to the ER anyway because like another poster said your doctor sounds like an idiot! She may need more then just benadryl.

I hope she gets better soon!
Blessings to you and your family in the New Year!
K. J.

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S.M.

answers from Melbourne on

Hi Heather,

I understand what you are going through my son is allergic to everything and I mean everything. Benadryl will help but make sure you stay on the schedule if you are late by just 10 minutes it will cost her. You should ask the doctor if you can give her Childrens Claritin. I found that it works better since you only have to to give it 1 time in 24 hours. If the hives dont go down by Tuesday I would bring her to the ER she may need a shot. Sometimes that is the only way to make them go down. As I myself am alergic to everything, I passed my gene's to my son.

Hope this helps.
S.

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T.W.

answers from Orlando on

Sounds to me like an allergic reaction to the Amoxicillin.
My son had similar side effects while being treated for an infected tooth. I thought it was the motrin and took him off but the bumps kept multiplying. I stopped the Amoxicillin and no more popped up.
His never turned blue, but did look like bug bites and some had a halo around them.
Good luck at the doctors and I would tell them you think there is an allergy to the antibiotic.

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S.G.

answers from Tampa on

My daughter had a reaction as well, after about 5 days she woke up one morning with the bumps. I called the dr immediately and they said to give her benedryl, but they wanted to see her in a couple hours, so they gave us an apptment for 4 hours later. I could basically watch the bumps move down her arms and legs toward her body and within about two hours she was one giant red spot all over! It was an allergic reation. They gave her something else for strep (which she was originally taking the amoxicillan for) and said to continue on the benedryl, but she was red like that for about another week, I couldn't believe how long they stayed. That first day she was rubbing herself on the carpet she said they were sooooo itchy.

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A.C.

answers from Tampa on

My daughter has a nut allergy. She has had hives that included swelling. I have seen her eyes swell shut after a bad reaction. It is so scary to see your child like that. She required numerous doses of benadryl over 24 hours to get back to normal. I hope she is better soon!

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C.

answers from Tampa on

My daughter is allergic to amox too. She got all blotchy like you are describing, but didn't get blue. We called the doctor right away and they saw her right away and changed her medication. It took about a week for her to break out too. As soon as she was off the amox. it strted to go away. It took a couple of weeks for her to clear totaly up, but she was fine.

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L.P.

answers from Orlando on

Heather,

I don't know about the blue...but when I was a child I broke out in a rash to amoxicilin. They had to stop the antibiotic and give me another and I never took amoxicilin again. I think I would find a new pediatrician b/c any drug reaction should be taken more seriously. And any pediatrician should agree to see a child if they are uncomfortable like that. Also in emergency situations that are not critical enough to go to the ER I have gone to After Hours Pediatrics.

Good luck - hope she feels better,

L.

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T.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Heather,
I just read your story(Sunday night). Boy did it bring back memories. I have not read the other post yet. My duaghter ,who is now 3 1/2, had a very bad allergic reaction at 12 months. It was not because of Ammox. but a food allergy. We did go to the ER and they gave her a medication by mouth and we got a prescription,Prednizone. Her hives were gone by thr next morning. We went to the ER at about 10 pm and she got the medicaine at about 11:30pm. I followed up with her doctor the next day. If her hives and swelling do not go down I would definitly go to the ER. I have hear of allergy to Amox. I was at the docror's office one day and a last was there with her infant son. He was prescribed Amox for something and the doctor at her come in to give him the first dose because this woman's husband was very allergic to Amox and they didn't know if the baby was too. So she gave himthe dose there and waited about 20 min. Everything was fine for him, but you never know. My daughter sometimes just starts breaking out for no reason. I sometimes don't know what she my have come in contact with.She is allergic to strawberries,shellfish and peanuts. So always care Bennadryl with me. I learned fro the ER trip. We were at Disney last year eating dinner and she juat started getting little red bumps on her face. I never knew what it was but i had th eBenadryl with me. I just found the Benadryl dosing spoons. They are very convenient to carry in your bag.
Just so you know you are not over reacting. I am the same way. The night we went to the ER I went in the doors and there was no one around to help and i was litterally screaming for some help. I nurse came out and was like"SHe's breathing and not bleeding,have a seat her to fill our papers....bla,bla,bla" I hope your baby get better soon.

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J.W.

answers from Orlando on

Heather,

I hope you have gotten resolution on this... I can not believer your Doctor's office is telling you to give her benedryl without seeing her. I have a child that gets hives frequently and we still do not know why - but my pediatrician ALWAYS insists that I come to the office so she can examine her. That is not something that can be diagnosed over the phone. Why did you not go to the ER when the pharmacist told you to? A drug reaction is serious! I hope your little one is better and I would consider changing pediatricians.

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H.R.

answers from Orlando on

If you have not done so already, take her to the ER NOW! I am not a nurse or DR, but I have 4 kids and two have had reactions to amoxicillian in the past. This sounds like an allergic reaction, not just a side effect (one of the side effects of amoxicillian is red dots all over the body). The reaction could spread to the airway, swelling her throat and blocking her airway. Even if it is a false alarm, I would get her to the ER as soon as possible, just to be on the safe side. Please understand that I don't mean to scare you in anyway, but as a mother of 4, the symptoms your daughter is showing would alarm me enough to take her to the ER immediately.

I pray that this is just a false alarm and just a minor side effect, and that all will be well with her soon. Be sure to keep us updated on how she is doing with this.

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D.C.

answers from Tampa on

I have no input, but would love to hear your update. I hope she is felling and doing better today.

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K.T.

answers from Tampa on

Heather,

I have allergic reactions with hives. I have had really bad cases of Hives but NEVER Had or ever have I seen any get blue. If you Dr. does'nt want to see her I would take her to the ER. In Brandon there is an Urgent Care emergency center for Children, it's on Robertson where the old library used to be years ago. They get you right in and are quick. We have had to take my grandson there several times and are there no longer than an hour.

Good Luck
Kathy

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A.E.

answers from Ocala on

My son had the same reaction to Amoxil, we ended up going back to the ER and he needed a shot of a steroid as well as benadryl-- followed by three days of the steroid and another antibiotic to get rid of the ear infection that landed him on the amoxil in the first place. Once he got the steroid in him he was fine, literally within a few hours all the spots were gone. Hope this helps!

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S.B.

answers from Fort Myers on

Oh boy!!!! That is a toughy..So weird my daughter had reoccuring double ear infections last year..she was frequently prescribed Amoxy as well!!!
She had such a severe allergic to Amoxycillan..SO BAD.. she had hives that turned into multiformed all over her body, there was a bluish color surrounding them. Yep, it started out a few dots..and we thought oh just bug bites, but then they spread into that hideous rash all over her body!!!!

My husband and I immediately took her to the ER at Gulf Coast Hospital the doctors there didnt know what in the world it was.. NO pediatric unit.. So my husband and I took her to the pediatrician's office the next morning, she stopped eating and drinking, she was dehydrated...therefore the pediatrician insisted that she be admitted at Health Park Hospital. Thank God for that!!! In the meantime, the pediatrician prescribed a steroid medication to get rid of the hives, but it actually caused her to have an ulcer in her esophogus, she then had to have a blood transfusion because she lost so much blood!!!! Moral--Never give a child steroid medication if they haven't been eating or drinking..--Never give a child antibiotics that have been found to have a high percentage of allergic reactions..She was in the ICU for 4 days.. with IVs of food and benadryl, she was poked, prodded, tested every 30 minutes, poor thing!!!:( It was really a nightmare, I can really relate and I share the pain!!! I am glad I know what I know now, it is really trial and error when you are a first time mom. My daughter is going to a pediatric allergist to be tested for other potential allergins. She too is very fair and her father is a red head.

-SEB, mother of a 24 month old daughter.

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R.G.

answers from San Juan on

You really need to take her to the ER. She's having a allergic drug interaction and your putting her at risk of something alot more serious. What are you waiting for?????? Fair skin or not, this could be really serious and I don't think that you want to sit there when it's too late for anything to be done beating yourself with the thought that I should have done more.
Please get her to the ER and have them do a complete blood and allergy panel on her. It will probably save her life. My Dad almost died in his 40's when he was given amoxicillin and he didn't know he was allergic to it. Please, please , please keep us allposted on her condition and get her the attention she needs.

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