Chlorhexidine: a hidden life-threatening allergen
10.5415/apallergy.2019.9.e29
- Author:
Mara FERNANDES
1
;
Tatiana LOURENÇO
;
Anabela LOPES
;
Amélia SPÍNOLA SANTOS
;
Maria Conceição PEREIRA SANTOS
;
Manuel PEREIRA BARBOSA
Author Information
1. Serviço de Imunoalergologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte EPE, Portugal. maravfernandes@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Allergy;
Anaphylaxis;
Chlorhexidine
- MeSH:
Anaphylaxis;
Chlorhexidine;
Disinfectants;
Hypersensitivity;
Urinary Catheterization;
Urinary Catheters
- From:
Asia Pacific Allergy
2019;9(4):e29-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Chlorhexidine is a commonly used antiseptic and disinfectant in the health-care setting. Anaphylaxis to chlorhexidine is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. Epidemiologic data suggest that the cases of chlorhexidine allergy appears to be increasing. In this article we report a life-threatening anaphylactic shock with cardiorespiratory arrest, during urethral catheterization due to chlorhexidine. The authors also performed a literature review of PubMed library of anaphylactic cases reports due to this antiseptic between 2014 and 2018, demonstrating the increase in the number of cases occurring worldwide and the importance of detailed anamnesis and appropriate diagnostic workup of allergic reactions to disinfectants.
