You may no longer need to avoid this popular antibiotic
If you have been telling your doctor for years that you are allergic to penicillin, it might be time to double check.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report revealed that of the 10% of the population that claims to be allergic to penicillin, less than 1% of those individuals actually have the allergy.
“Penicillin is a commonly prescribed antibiotic,” explains Dr. Jennette Berry, a family medicine physician at Advocate Health Care. “Unnecessarily avoiding it often leads to being prescribed less effective alternatives, an increase in health care costs and the risk of contributing to antibiotic resistance.”
Penicillin is known for effectively treating a wide range of bacterial infections, including ear, throat and skin infections.
Penicillin allergy symptoms
- Hives
- Localized swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction
Symptoms usually occur immediately or within an hour of taking the antibiotic.
“Sometimes individuals incorrectly think they have a penicillin allergy because they attributed a symptom they experienced during a previous illness to the medicine,” says Dr. Berry.
Additionally, penicillin allergies do not run in the family, so you do not need to avoid the antibiotic due to family history.
Dr. Berry says it is also possible to grow out of the allergy. The CDC says 80% of individuals with a penicillin allergy are no longer sensitive to the antibiotic after 10 years.
How to test if you are allergic
Inform your health care provider if you suspect you have a penicillin allergy. They will evaluate your past reactions and may guide you to appropriate allergy testing.
An in-office skin test can identify if you are truly allergic to the antibiotic. Some health care providers may do a subsequent oral challenge if you test negative during the skin test to confirm that penicillin is safe for you to be prescribed in the future.
If you do test positive for a penicillin allergy and the antibiotic is the only effective treatment available, desensitization is possible with the help of an allergist.
If you are experiencing an allergic reaction, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.
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About the Author
Anna Kohler, health enews contributor, is an external communications specialist for Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. She received her bachelor's degree in public relations from Illinois State University and has worked in health care public relations and content marketing for over five years. In her free time, she enjoys working out, exploring new places with her friends and family, and keeping up with the latest social media trends.
