Wyatt J P
Department of Accident and Emergency, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
J Accid Emerg Med. 1996 Mar;13(2):114-5. doi: 10.1136/emj.13.2.114.
To investigate the nature and accuracy of information carried by patients about their drug allergies.
2500 new adult patients.
Accident and emergency department of a tertiary referral centre.
Patients were questioned about drug allergies. Where they claimed allergies, general practitioners were contacted for corroboration.
242 patients (9.7%) claimed 276 allergies; 32 different drugs were implicated. Penicillin was implicated most often (151 patients); 38 patients could not remember what they were allergic to; 21 described severe reactions, but four could not remember the drugs involved. Only seven patients carried evidence of their allergies. General practitioners were contacted about 240 of the drug allergies; only 114 were confirmed as described.
Many patients who believe themselves to have drug allergies are poorly informed about them. Emergency prescribing for these patients may risk anaphylaxis. The future acceptance of "Smart cards"would reduce this risk. In the meantime, patients with drug allergies should be strongly encouraged to carry evidence of their allergies.
调查患者所提供的药物过敏信息的性质及准确性。
2500名成年新患者。
一家三级转诊中心的急诊科。
询问患者药物过敏情况。对于声称有过敏反应的患者,联系其全科医生进行核实。
242名患者(9.7%)声称有276种过敏反应;涉及32种不同药物。青霉素是最常涉及的药物(151名患者);38名患者记不起自己对什么过敏;21名患者描述了严重反应,但4名患者记不起所涉及的药物。只有7名患者携带了过敏证据。就约240种药物过敏情况联系了全科医生;只有114种得到了如所述的确认。
许多自认为有药物过敏的患者对自身过敏情况了解不足。为这些患者进行紧急开药可能会有过敏反应的风险。未来采用“智能卡”将降低这种风险。与此同时,应大力鼓励有药物过敏的患者携带过敏证据。