Duration of the rash | Amoxicillin rash

Duration of the rash

The non-allergic rash usually persists for three days and spreads over all parts of the body during this time. The rash then subsides and should disappear completely after 2 weeks.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis results from the typical temporal occurrence of the rash, the physical examination and from the history of the disease while taking amoxicillin. This makes it easy to differentiate between an allergic or non-allergic cause. If the rash appears after 5-11 days, it is usually not an allergy and cannot be diagnosed by an allergy test through the skin or by taking a blood sample.

If the cause is allergic, there are various allergy tests that can be consulted. For immediate reactions, the prick test is normally used, in which the allergen is introduced into the skin with a prick or lancet and compared with a positive and negative control. After approx. 15 minutes a skin reaction should occur if an allergy is present.

Do you have to stop taking amoxicillin?

If a rash occurs while taking amoxicillin, the affected person will have to stop taking amoxicillin. It is important to know that a rash on the skin when taking Amoxicillin should always be assessed by a doctor. The doctor will decide whether you have to stop taking Amoxicillin or not.

In many cases it is not necessary to stop taking Amoxicillin. This is the case if it is a simple skin rash, which occurs relatively frequently with Amoxicillin. Signs of this are the appearance of spots and redness without itching only after a few days.

However, if the rash appears immediately and is accompanied by other symptoms, Amoxicillin must be discontinued. This is recommended in order to first find the cause of the problem. If it is an allergic reaction to Amoxicillin, discontinuing the triggering factor is the most important therapeutic measure.

Therapy

If the cause is not allergic, the following measures can be taken: To relieve the itching, damp cloths or cooling gels can be helpful. If the itching becomes too severe, drugs of the antihistamine group can be administered, as the itching is mainly caused by a release of the substance histamine. Otherwise, no further treatment is necessary.

As a rule, the rash usually subsides by itself. In the case of an allergic cause, on the other hand, further treatment steps must be taken: First of all, if an allergic cause is suspected, the medication should be discontinued immediately (see: discontinuation of cortisone). Depending on the severity of the allergic reaction, further medication such as antihistamines and cortisone must be administered.

Cortisone is an active substance that is often successfully used in the treatment of rashes. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and regulates the immune system. It is usually used in the form of ointments or taken as tablets.

Cortisone makes sense in the case of a rash caused by amoxicillin. Applied locally as an ointment, it can help to alleviate the symptoms and shorten the duration of the rash. Cortisone is the remedy of choice especially in severe cases of allergic reactions. In such cases, the systemic administration of cortisone, e.g. in the form of tablets or intravenously, should be considered. However, cortisone should not be applied to the skin for too long in order not to damage it.