Penicillin allergy

[Eurox]

Right, where to start... Ive worked at KFC since march, and part of the job is to bread the chickens with flour. This is called being on "cooks". A while after I had started the job I came out in a rash on my arms which was really sore, blotchy and itchy. I struggled along with it hoping it would go away until I started scratching till I bled. So I went to see someone about it and they couldnt diagnose what it was, but gave me Clorphenamine tablets and aqueous cream to treat it. These do help keep it down a bit but its still there and so itchy and sore at times. So I did a bit of research myself and whilst looking at allergy photos I found one that looked like my arms do and it was a picture of an allergic reaction to Penicillin, then something clicked because I am also allergic to penicillin. But I don't know how to link the flour to the family of penicillin. Does anyone know of a way they could be linked. Help much needed, cheers.

[tombrandy]

Do you wear rubber gloves? it could be that you are allergic to them,also you should NOT be working with food .full stop.

[sallybowles]

I'm thinking you obviously have to wash your hands before you start work in a food preparation area. could you be allergic to the handwash? It could have chemicals in it.

[flump1]

Hi Eurox, I had a very similar painful reaction when I worked at a bakery and it turned out to be I was reacting to the flour. It was a contact dermatitis (sp) ! and although cream helped, it was not until I gave up putting my arms near flour that it cleared up . I was told at the time I was suffering that there are some ' nasty things ' in flour, natural or not. It may even be the bleach used to lighten the flour. Maybe you could do another job in KFC for a while and see if it clears up ? I hope you get this sorted as it must be horrid for you. Good luck.

[Scarlett]

Ask KFC if they can put you on another job for a few weeks and see if it clears up. It may not be related to the flour at all, but either way you need to work out what is causing it.

[squarebear]

Urgh! Remind me never to go in KFC again.

[bednobs]

aha! so those crunchy bits in KFC are scabs not coating then?

i would think it was much more rational that you were allergic to something in the flour/something you come in contact with rather than flour and penecillin are linked as the others above are suggesting. You shuldn't be handling food if you have scabs/dermatitis,and even basic food hygiene should tell you this. Speak with your boss, they should be providing you with a work environment that dosent make you ill!

the best thing to do would be to work away from the area that is causing you problems, but if thats not possible then they shouls be providing you with some protective equipment so you are sheilded from whateve it is thats causing it

[Whickerman]

believe me - if you're allergic to penicillin and you have come into contact with it the least of your problems would be a rash. The allergic toxic shock choking the life out of you would be a more annoying symptom.

You have developed dermatitis, exactly as outlined by flump above. Contact dermatitis like this can only be avoided by completely avoiding the trigger.
Unfortunately for you, if you keep getting exposed there is a risk that this would develop into allergic dermatitis, and then you would need to only be in the same area as the trigger to get a reaction. You need to get this sorted quickly.

[saxy_jag]

I once came down with a really bad fever, sore throat etc. that felt like flu. A fortnight later I was still feeling bad, so went to the doctor, who prescribed Penicillin - something quite usual given my history of throat infections and tonsillitis. For the first time ever, I came out in the type of rash that Eurox has described. Went back to the doctor and saw a locum who asked me if I'd had glandular fever. I said no, I hadn't, and she went on to explain that the GF germ can sometimes react with pencillin and cause this sort of rash. We went through my fever symptoms again, and she was pretty convinced that was what I'd had.

Just a thought.

On the other hand, it could just be an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients.