Key Message
Beta-lactams are the first-line antibiotic to control many bacterial infections. Traditionally, the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in children has been amoxicillin, which has been increasingly combined with clavulanic acid. An accurate diagnosis is essential for avoiding the prescription of alternative antibiotics which may be less effective, more toxic. Betalactams drug hypersensitivity reactions are classified as immediate and nonimmediate, being the last one the most frequent in children. The aim of our study was to identify the drugs involved, the selectivity of the response, the mechanism, and the value of the different diagnostic tests for establishing a diagnosis in children evaluated for DHRs to BLs. After the allergollogical study we conclude that only few cases were confirmed of either type of reaction. Skin testing proved less valuable in nonimmediate reactions, over half of which would also have been lost in a short DPT protocol. Selective responders to amoxicillin were more likely to have nonimmediate reactions, while clavulanic acid-selectivity was exclusive to the nonimmediate typology. Over half the cases with DPTs required 6-7 days of treatment for DHR confirmation.