Allergic Reactions

1. Part 1: Can a patient get a rash from IV contrast? Can it occur 24-36 hours post CT study? Part 2: How do you treat the rash?

Part 1: We used to think that the answer was no but indeed the answer is yes. A very small percentage of patients can indeed develop a rash which can occur hours to days after the study. This has occassionally been reported with Visipaque when used for CT or classic angiography. Part 2: Drug rashes should be treated symptomatically. Most are mild and self-limited. Very severe reactions are extremely rare and may require steroids to reduce inflammation, analgesics to reduce discomfort, and antihistamines to control itching and scratching. People having an extreme drug rash should not be re-exposed to the same drug.