title: Penicillin in milk--its importance in urticaria.
abstract: Fifty patients with recurrent urticaria were tested by means of the RAST test for penicillin allergy. Fifteen patients had positive reactions and of these, thirteen received provocation tests with 0.1 U/ml of penicillin in milk. Four had definite positive reactions, three doubtful reactions and six had no reaction. Although there has been improvement in the purity of milk, penicillin residues remain a potential cause of urticaria even in very low amounts and could have contributed to the urticaria in at least 8% of our patients. Veterinary use of antibiotics and food quality should be strictly regulated to prevent contamination of our diet.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology*; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000276:immunology / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000276:immunology; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000276:immunology; D010406:Penicillins / Q000276:immunology*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D010406:Penicillins; D011107:Polylysine; C003058:penicilloyl polylysine; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010400:Penicillin G; D010404:Penicillin V