What is amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin belongs to a group of β-lactam antibiotics. It is prescribed for people who are not allergic to penicillin when fighting off certain bacterial infections. The medication is easily absorbed especially if taken orally. This antibiotic is commonly used in ear and throat infections, infections of the bladder and in certain sexually transmitted diseases. This medication, just like all other medications, has certain side effects. The side effects of amoxicillin vary from mild (nausea, diarrhea, skin rash) to rather severe ones (liver damage and reactions caused by being oversensitive). Some of amoxicillin's side effects are even life-threatening in some people.
Amoxicillin rash is not such a serious side effect of the medication, and it is considered to be fairly common. Still, if it occurs the medication may need to be discontinued — but never without your doctor's say-so, since abruptly stopping a course of antibiotics will cause your infection to return with full force.
Causes of an Amoxicillin Skin Rash
A skin rash caused by amoxicillin can be maculopapular or morbiliform. This means that it resembles the rash which occurs in measles. The rash is reaction of the body to the medication. This reaction can be either idiosyncratic or may precede another reaction such as ananaphylactic reaction. This kind of rash is likely to show up a bit later; three to seven days after a person first begins their course of amoxicillin.
The rash can also be hives (urticaria), in which case it consists of red and itchy raised patches that can be large and cover significant areas of the body. Hives often signify an allergic reaction. The rash usually occurs within 72 hours after taking the drug and lingers for a week. It can also withdraw in three days.
A rash caused by amoxicillin is not contagious.
Symptoms of Amoxicillin Rash
The rash often initially starts from the abdomen. It may also affect the back and in some cases spreads to all extremities. The face can be affected by the amoxicillin rash as well, and covered in small flat dots. The color of skin changes is either red or dark pink. Itchiness is not a characteristic of amoxicillin rash, unless the rash is hives. In some children the rash may also include blisters.
Additional symptoms seen in people experiencing amoxicillin side effects may include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn and lightheadedness. Even increased body temperature accompanied by chills and body ache may occur.
In predisposed people there is the possibility of vaginal or/ and oral yeast infection.
Those patients who have developed seizures together with the skin rash require urgent medical help.
Treatment for Amoxicillin Rash
After the onset of the rash, the medication may need to be discontinued, but this is not necessarily the case. Because it is so important to finish an entire course of antibiotics for the treatment to be effective, patients are advised to seek a consultation with their doctor immediately if a skin rash appears. The cause should be determined, and a decision is then made.
The rash often withdraws spontaneously, but antihistamines can also come to the rescue in some cases. In some cases, an oatmeal bath can sooth the symptoms. Intake of plenty of water can accelerate elimination of toxins.
Every case of skin rash needs to be reported to the doctor so the cause can be identified and the next steps can be decided on.
Precautions
The doctor needs to be fully informed about the health of his/her patient. Some medical conditions may induce skin rash if amoxicillin is given. This medication can be excreted in milk of women who are breastfeeding. Precaution is also important in patients suffering from kidney disease.
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