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Pprescribed Cephalexin For Insect Bite And Face Is Red With Raised Lumps And Spots. Cannot Take Penicillin. Suggest?

Posted on Sat, 3 Aug 2013

Question: My husband was prescribed Cephalexin for an insect bite and now his face is very red with raised lumps and spots and the skin is very tight? He can't take penicillin, does Cephalexin contain any penicillin?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (35 minutes later)

Hello,
Thanks for the query.
Yes cephalexin and penicillin belong to same group, beta lactams.
Stop the drug immediately. He needs treatment with steroids. For now give him an anti histamine like avil. Please take him to a dermatologist. It is an adverse drug reaction. Let me know if you have any other doubts. Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (4 hours later)

Do we contact the medical center and complain because my husband told both the pre- med and the doctor that he had a penicillin allergy?
As he have to travel away on business in the morning he won't be back till the end of next week!!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (10 minutes later)

Yes you can do that. The doctor should have know this basic fact that both cephalosporins and penicillins cross react. But for now first take care of your husband. Please take him to a dermatologist as steroids are prescription drugs. Thank you.

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar