Module overview
Allergic reactions to drugs are common, complex and often misunderstood. Drug allergy is a specialist area of allergy that requires dedicated training and therefore in this module, you will explore all aspects of drug allergy in depth. The module teaches about the immunological basis for drug allergy and will explore the variety of presentations of different patterns of drug allergy across the spectrum of hypersensitivity mechanisms including IgE mediated drug allergy and non-IgE mediated drug allergy. The sessions will include detail on pathogenesis, diagnosis, investigations and management. Key drugs will be covered, including antibiotics, analgesics and anaesthetic agents. You will also explore teaching topics through interactive clinical cases and take part in practicals to learn intradermal testing. This module comprehensively covers both paediatric and adult disease.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Solve complex clinical and scientific issues systematically.
- Formulate informed judgements in a clinical and/or scientific setting.
Cognitive Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Interpret diagnostic information from clinical scenarios of drug allergy.
- Determine the differential diagnoses of reaction patterns similar to drug allergic causes.
Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Evaluate the pathogenesis, diagnosis, investigation and management of drug allergy.
- Discuss the different forms of hypersensitivity reactions (I to IV).
Syllabus
The syllabus for the Drug Allergy module addresses the following themes and covers both adults and children:
- The immunological basis for drug allergy including type I to type IV hypersensitivity reactions.
- The presentations of different patterns of drug allergy.
- Differential diagnosis of drug allergy covering allergic reactions to ACE inhibitors, antibiotics, perioperative drugs, analgesics, vaccines and biologics.
- In vitro and in vivo investigations for drug allergy.
- Management of drug allergy reactions.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
A variety of learning and teaching methods will be adopted to promote a wide range of skills and meet the differing learning styles of the group.
The techniques will include seminars, group work, practical demonstrations and exercises surrounding interpretation of data and clinical scenarios.
Specialist lecturers from a range of academic and health care professional backgrounds will be used to ensure a breadth and depth of perspective is offered, giving a good balance between background theories and principles and practical management advice.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 18 |
| Independent Study | 82 |
| Total study time | 100 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Rook's Textbook of Dermatology. Griffiths CEM, Barker J, Bleiker T, et al. (eds.). Rook's Textbook of Dermatology 9th ed. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell; 2016. Chapters on adverse reactions to drugs (Ch 12) and benign cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs (Ch 18). Note: library have the eBook of this new 9th edition.
Diagnosis and management of drug allergy in adults, children and young people: summary of NICE guidance. Dworzynski K, Ardern-Jones M et al. BMJ. 2014 Sep 3;349:g4852. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g4852.
Useful journals:. Allergy Clinical Experimental Allergy Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Global Atlas of Allergy. EAACI have produced an online Global Atlas of Allergy. To access the atlas, visit http://www.eaaci.org/globalatlas/GlobalAtlasAllergy.pdf.
International Consensus on drug allergy.. Demoly et al. Allergy. 2014 Apr;69(4):420-37. International Consensus on drug allergy.
Textbooks
Holgate S, Church, M and Lichtenstein L (2011). Allergy. Philadelphia PA, USA: Elsevier.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
The assessment for the module provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes. The written assignment will give you the opportunity to (1) demonstrate the depth and breadth of your knowledge of drug allergy, along with (2) showing higher cognitive skills and your ability to make sound judgements.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assignment | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assignment | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External