Recently, a report about a woman who claimed to have suffered disfigurement from a cefalosporin allergy and was repeatedly issued a critical condition notice has sparked widespread attention across the internet. 

According to a report by Chongqing Broadcasting Group First Eye News, 30-year-old Ms. Zhao from Yunnan claimed that she suffered disfigurement due to a cefalosporin allergy during an intravenous infusion. She experienced extensive damage and peeling of the skin and mucous membranes all over her body, with severe mucous membrane damage in the mouth, esophagus, eyes and other parts. She was issued a critical condition notice several times, and her body was unable to absorb any medication administered. 

Ms. Zhao told reporters that she initially went to a hospital outpatient clinic for a cold, after which the hospital prescribed an intravenous cefalosporin infusion. "I felt a sharp pain at the time, but the nurse said it was normal." After returning home that night, Ms. Zhao developed skin redness and swelling, and blisters in her mouth. She continued with the cefalosporin infusion the next day, which led to a persistent high fever of 40 degrees Celsius. After being transferred to several hospitals and receiving multiple critical condition notices, Ms. Zhao was finally diagnosed with severe drug eruption - toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and a series of complications at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. 

Coninno Observation:

Data from the National Center for Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring shows that the incidence of allergic reactions to ceftriaxone sodium is 3.49 per thousand (about 3.5 cases per 1,000 people), and the incidence for cefixime is 4.27 per thousand. This means the allergy risk of cefalosporin drugs is relatively low, yet actual cases still occur from time to time due to their widespread use. 

The incidence of anaphylactic shock caused by cefalosporin drugs ranges from 0.0001% to 0.1%, with a mortality rate as high as 10%. The mortality rate may exceed 60% in settings with inadequate basic medical facilities. For people allergic to penicillin, the risk of cefalosporin allergy is 10% to 30%, and the rate of cross-allergy between different cefalosporin drugs is below 10%. 

A 2023 study by a hospital in Zhejiang Province found that 1.75 per thousand of patients with negative skin test results still experienced allergic reactions, while the allergy rate among patients who did not undergo a skin test was 1.63 per thousand. This indicates that skin tests are not an absolutely reliable preventive measure. 

Therefore, high vigilance should be maintained against drug-induced allergic reactions. One should not let their guard down just because they have never had an allergic reaction to a certain drug before, but should timely understand their own allergy status and monitor their physical condition during intravenous infusions. If symptoms such as skin edema, erythema, urticaria, accompanied by intense itching, chest tightness, or shortness of breath occur, medical staff should be consulted immediately for assistance.