IMMEDIATE REACTION TO ROXITHROMYCIN AND PRICK TEST CROSS-SENSITIZATION TO ERYTHROMYCIN AND CLARITHROMYCIN

Allergic reactions to macrolides appear to be very rare. Only a few ca ses of fixed drug eruption or urticaria due to the administration of e rythromycin have been reported. Cross-reactions between the different macrolides have not yet been published. We report a case of a 31-year- old female patient who developed generalized urticaria and tachycardia shortly after administration of roxithromycin (Rulid(R)). Immediate-t ype hypersensitivity was confirmed by positive prick test reactions to roxithromycin and the chemically closely related macrolides erythromy cin and clarithromycin.