If youve been allergic to penicillin in the past, you and twenty million other Americans may think you wont ever benefit from its wonder-working properties. But recent studies indicated that as many as 75 percent of those who are certain they cant take penicillin have actually outgrown their allergy, or never were allergic in the first place.
Penicillin allergy is the most common drug allergy. Penicillin antibiotics are widely prescribed for bacterial infections such as strep throat. However, not all unfavorable reactions to penicillin are a true penicillin allergy.
Doctors are unclear about the reason that people no longer demonstrate the allergy, but the phenomenon has been observed in several controlled experiments. Researchers think the explanation may lie in individual genetic and metabolic factors.
Many of us were told in our childhoods that we were allergic to penicillin a judgment generally arrived at because a skin rash developed when the antibiotic was administered. Doctors now believe that in some cases the rashes were caused by the disease under treatment rather than by the drug itself.
If your doctor recommends penicillin treatment as a first choice, it may be worth taking two highly accurate skin tests that can determine if youre still allergic. A negative reaction to both tests indicates that penicillin can be administered at very little risk. These tests are usually available at major medical centers.
One important warning: Penicillin allergy is dangerous and should not be ignored or taken lightly. So, dont under any circumstances assume you are no longer allergic without taking these tests and discussing the matter carefully with your doctor. Penicillin allergy is an overreaction by your immune system to penicillin and related antibiotics. If you do have a penicillin allergy, your reaction to taking the antibiotic may range from a rash to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Here are the penicillin allergy symptoms offered by the Mayo Clinic. They include:HivesRashItchy skinWheezingSwollen lips, tongue or face (angioedema)Anaphylactic reactions:The most serious allergic reaction to penicillin is an anaphylactic (an-uh-fuh-LAK-tik) response, which can be life-threatening. Anaphylactic reactions develop immediately after penicillin exposure in highly sensitive people. Signs and symptoms include: Difficulty breathingWheezingDrop in blood pressureSwelling of the throat or tongueDizzinessLoss of consciousnessRapid or weak pulseGet emergency medical care immediately if you think you or someone else is having an anaphylactic reaction.However, if you have less severe reactions after taking penicillin, talk to your doctor. If possible, see your doctor when the allergic reaction is occurring as this will help your physician make a diagnosis. Robin Westen is ThirdAges medical reporter. Check for her daily updates. She is the author of Ten Days to Detox: How to Look and Feel a Decade Younger.See what others have to stay about this story or leave a comment of your own.
