Corticosteroids with anti-inflammatory/anti-allergic properties are used to treat allergies. However, steroids themselves cause drug hypersensitivity reactions. A 10-month-old girl with bronchiolitis was brought to the emergency room, where she developed urticarial reactions in response to intravenous methylprednisolone. Her urticarial reactions recurred with oral methylprednisolone. As she showed no response to bronchodilator treatment after performing skin prick and intradermal tests, another corticosteroid (dexamethasone) was administered. After successful oral then intravenous dexamethasone administration, the patient was discharged with improvement. This case indicates that drug hypersensitivity reactions might occur even with corticosteroids and an alternative corticosteroid can be safely used.
Keywords: Hypersensitivity, allergy, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone