SERUM-SICKNESS-LIKE SYNDROME FROM PENICILLIN

WE ARE reporting two cases of a serum-sickness-like syndrome in children which seemed to be due to penicillin used in therapy. In both cases, there was a pronounced encephalitic appearance, and in both electrocardiographic studies showed myocardial changes; in one, an "allergic" glomerulonephritis resulted, and in the other, suspicion-arousing urinary findings.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE  Although reactions to penicillin were reported very early,¹ the number of such reports has become so large that many physicians are justifiably wary of using the drug indiscriminately. To date only five deaths have been reported.² A comprehensive review³ lists all the possible varieties, most of the reports being of simple allergic reactions such as urticaria, sneezing, wheezing, and exfoliative dermatitis, but even Herxheimer reactions in nonsyphilitics⁴ and Loeffler's syndrome have been noted. Reports of a serum-sickness-like reaction are by now numerous,⁶ but case reports in the pediatric literature are notable