Serum sickness like reaction in an 11-year-old boy.

BACKGROUND

We describe the case of an 11 year old Nigerian boy who presented with acute onset of polyarthralgia associated with low grade pyrexia, facial oedema,urticarial rash, pruritis, throat and ear pain.

METHODS

His medical and surgical histories were unremarkable.Twelve days prior to admission he had been treated for acute tonsillitis with penicillin.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum sickness like reaction was diagnosed and he was treated with analgesia and prednisolone. His symptoms were resolved within 48 h and he was discharged.