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Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Chlorhexidine is a widely used antiseptic and disinfectant. Compared to its ubiquitous use in medical and non-medical environments, the sensitization rate seems to be low. Multivarious hypersensitivity reactions to the agent have been reported, including delayed hypersensitivity reactions such as contact dermatitis, fixed drug eruptions and photosensitivity reactions. An increasing number of immediate-type allergies such as contact urticaria, occupational asthma and anaphylactic shock have been reported. In the case report, we describe anaphylaxis due to topical skin application of chlorhexidine, confirmed by skin testing and sulfidoleukotriene stimulation test (CAST(R): cellular antigen stimulation test). The potential risk of anaphylactic reactions due to the application of chlorhexidine is well known, especially that application to mucous membranes can cause anaphylactic reactions and was therefore discouraged. The use of chlorhexidine at a 0.05% concentration on wounds and intact skin was so far thought to be safe. Besides our patient, only one other case of severe anaphylactic reaction due to application of chlorhexidine on skin has been reported. Hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine is rare, but its potential to cause anaphylactic shock is probably underestimated. This review should remind all clinicians of an important potential risk of this widely used antiseptic.
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PMID:Chlorhexidine anaphylaxis: case report and review of the literature. 1515 22

Chlorhexidine, an antiseptic belonging to family of biguanides, is used extensively in the medical and surgical environment. Late onset hypersensitivity and eczema occur regularly and are well documented events. Conversely, immediate hypersensitivity, sometimes taking the form of acute urticaria that can result in anaphylactic shock, is rarer. These manifestations can occur during contact of the skin or mucosa with chlorhexidine. Out of the fifty case reports of chlorhexidine-related anaphylaxis published worldwide over the past ten years, fifteen occurred during surgery. Signs generally appear from 15 to 45 minutes after the start of anesthesia. If there is any suspicion of immediate allergy to chlorhexidine, prick-tests or even intradermal reaction (IDR) techniques are highly recommended. In the event of confirmed allergy to chlorhexidine, strict eviction is required, bearing in mind that over a hundred medicinal products currently on the French market contain chlorhexidine.
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PMID:Immediate hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine: literature review. 1518 Mar 52

Chlorhexidine is widely used as an antiseptic and disinfectant in medical and nonmedical environments. Although the sensitization rate seems to be low, its ubiquitous use raises the possibility of sensitization in many patients and medical care workers. We describe a patient with anaphylaxis during digital rectal examination with chlorhexidine jelly. Urticaria, angioedema, dyspnea, and hypotension developed within a few minutes of the rectal examination. The patient fully recovered after treatment with epinephrine and corticosteroids. Skin tests for chlorhexidine were undertaken 5 weeks later, showing positive prick and intradermal skin tests. Within 30 min of the skin test, the patient complained of febrile sensation, chest tightness, angioedema, and urticaria on the face and trunk. An enzyme allergosorbent test for latex was negative. We present this case to alert clinicians about hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine that could potentially be life-threatening. We suggest that chlorhexidine should be recognized as a causative agent of anaphylaxis during procedural interventions.
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PMID:A case of anaphylaxis to chlorhexidine during digital rectal examination. 1858 93

Chlorhexidine is a widely used antiseptic and disinfectant in medical and nonmedical environments. Compared to its ubiquitous use, allergic contact dermatitis from chlorhexidine has rarely been reported and so its sensitization rate seems to be low. The prevalence of contact urticaria and anaphylaxis due to chlorhexidine remains to be unknown. This case report presents a case of urticaria due to oral use of chlorhexidine. The adverse reaction was confirmed by skin prick test.
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PMID:Chlorhexidine urticaria: a rare occurrence with a common mouthwash. 1988 28

Chlorhexidine is a widely used antiseptic and disinfectant in medical and non-medical environments. Compared to its ubiquitous use, allergic contact dermatitis from chlorhexidine has rarely been reported and so its sensitization rate seems to be low. Chlorhexidine has been used for more than 50 years but it was only in the last two decades, that reports of immediate- type reactions to chlorhexidine were seen. Reactions ranging from localized urticaria to anaphylactic shock and hypersensitivity reactions, including delayed hypersensitivity reactions such as contact dermatitis, fixed drug eruptions, and photosensitivity reactions, began to appear more frequently. However the prevalence of contact urticaria and anaphylaxis due to chlorhexidine remains to be unknown. In this case report we have reported a case of urticaria due to oral use of chlorhexidine. The adverse reaction was confirmed by a skin prick test.
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PMID:Allergic urticaria: a case report of rare skin allergy with a common mouthwash. 2391 2

Over recent years, interest in the use of antiseptics has been reinforced as these molecules are not concerned by the problem of bacterial resistance. Whereas the in vitro efficacy of antiseptics has been well-studied, much less is known regarding their irritant and allergenic properties. This review provides an update on the comparative irritant and allergenic properties of commonly-used antiseptics in medicine nowadays. All antiseptics have irritant properties, especially when they are misused. Povidone-iodine has an excellent profile in terms of allergenicity. Allergic contact dermatitis is uncommon but is often misdiagnosed by practitioners, who confuse allergy and irritation. Chlorhexidine has been incriminated in some cases of allergic contact dermatitis; it is considered a relatively weak allergen, although it may rarely cause immunological contact urticaria and even life-threatening anaphylaxis. Octenidine is considered a safe and efficient antiseptic when used for superficial skin infections, however, aseptic tissue necrosis and chronic inflammation have been reported following irrigation of penetrating hand wounds. Polihexanide is an uncommon contact allergen as regards irritant and/or allergic contact dermatitis but cases of anaphylaxis have been reported. Considering the data available comparing the irritant and allergenic properties of major antiseptics currently in use, it should be acknowledged that all antiseptics may induce cutaneous side-effects. The present article reviews the most recent safety data that can guide consumers' choice.
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PMID:A comparison of the irritant and allergenic properties of antiseptics. 2449 4

Chlorhexidine is a commonly used antiseptic and disinfectant in the health-care setting. Its usage has increased in recent years with intensive campaigns and infection control guidelines to combat hospital-acquired infections. As a result, patients and health-care workers (HCW) are exposed to increasing chlorhexidine usage. In recent years, adverse reactions to chlorhexidine ranging from allergic contact dermatitis, photosensitivity, fixed drug eruptions, urticaria and anaphylactic shock have been reported. Most have been isolated case reports on adverse reactions occurring in healthy individuals or HCW. We report a case of anaphylactic shock caused by applying chlorhexidine cleansing solution and masquerading as septic shock from left-leg necrotising fasciitis.
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PMID:Chlorhexidine Anaphylaxis Masquerading as Septic Shock. 2611 40

Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic and disinfectant used in surgical and clinical practice since 1954 and is available in aqueous or alcoholic solutions 0.5%-4.0% and has a broad-spectrum activity. Despite their widespread use, allergic reactions with chlorhexidine are rarely reported. We describe a case of anaphylaxis with chlorhexidine during a septoplasty, turbinectomy, and maxillary sinusectomy. The patient presented with periorbital edema, hives, hypotension, and wheezing. Immediately after the diagnosis of anaphylaxis promethazine, hydrocortisone, and epinephrine were administered with immediate clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of assessing whether there is a previous clinical history of hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine in patients who will undergo surgical procedures.
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PMID:Perioperative Anaphylaxis to Chlorhexidine during Surgery and Septoplasty. 2840 44

Chlorhexidine can cause severe immediate-type allergic reactions such as urticaria, anaphylactic shock or, even, cardiac arrest. We report the case of a patient who developed perioperative anaphylactic shock caused by chlorhexidine 1 year after a postoperative urticarial reaction, which was assumed not to be significant at the time. This case highlights the importance of identifying mild allergy symptoms after exposure to chlorhexidine at the pre-anaesthetic assessment to prevent more severe allergic reactions in future.
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PMID:Chlorhexidine Allergy: Mild Allergic Reactions Can Precede Anaphylaxis in the Healthcare Setting. 3138 May 16