Serum sickness

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Serum sickness Classification and external resources
ICD-10	T 80.6
ICD-9	999.5
DiseasesDB	11970
eMedicine	med/2105
MeSH	D012713

Serum sickness is a reaction to a proteins in antiserum derived from an animal source. It is a type of hypersensitivity, specifically immune complex (type 3) hypersensitivity.

Serum sickness typically develops up to ten days after exposure to the antiserum. The symptoms and treatment are very similar to an allergic reaction. However, it is different from true anaphylaxis, since the symptoms are not instantaneous: onset is typically 2-4 weeks after exposure.^{[citation needed]}

The term serum sickness–like reaction (SSLR) is occasionally used to refer to similar illnesses that arise from the introduction of certain non-protein substances.

1 Causes
2 Symptoms
3 Treatment
4 References

[edit] Causes

Serum sickness can be developed as a result of exposure to antibodies derived from animals. These serums are generally administered in order to prevent or treat an infection or envenomation. When the antiserum is given, the human immune system can mistake the proteins present for harmful antigens. The body produces antibodies, which combine with these proteins to form immune complexes. These complexes can cause more reactions, and cause the symptoms detailed below. Serum sickness can also be caused by several drugs, notably penicillin based medicines. This result in hypocomplementemia, a low C3 level in serum.

[edit] Symptoms

Symptoms can take as long as fourteen days after exposure to appear, and may include:

Rashes
Joint pain (arthralgia)
Fever
Lymph node swelling (lymphadenopathy)
Shock
Decreased blood pressure (hypotension)
Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)

[edit] Treatment

Symptoms will generally disappear on their own, although corticosteroids may be prescribed in the most severe forms. Antihistamine may also be used.

[edit] References

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v • d • e Consequences of external causes (T15-T35, T66-T98, 930-959, 990-995)

General external causes	Foreign body - Burn - Frostbite

Other external causes	Radiation poisoning - Hyperthermia - Hypothermia - Immersion foot - Chilblain Aerosinusitis - Hypoxia - Barotrauma - Altitude sickness - Chronic mountain sickness - Decompression sickness - Asphyxia - Starvation maltreatment (Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Psychological abuse) Motion sickness (Airsickness, Sea-sickness) Electric shock - Anaphylaxis - Angioedema Hypersensitivity (Allergy, Arthus reaction) Subcutaneous emphysema

Certain early complications of trauma	embolism (Air, Fat) - Crush syndrome/Rhabdomyolysis - Compartment syndrome/Volkmann's contracture

Complications of surgical and medical care	Serum sickness - Malignant hyperthermia