Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin? The Truth Might Surprise You

Why You Should Get Tested for a Penicillin Allergy
You or someone you know has likely lived most of your life with the belief that you are allergic to penicillin, afraid that a prescription for this drug could result in dangerous side effects or even death. Current estimates suggest that nearly 10% of the U.S. population have been labeled as penicillin allergic. But here’s a surprising fact: The vast majority of those people are not allergic to penicillin after all and unfortunately if you are one of those people a penicillin allergy incorrectly included in your medical record can actually put you at risk.

In this blog post, I am going to explain why it’s important to get tested for a penicillin allergy. It could make a big difference in your healthcare and even help you avoid unnecessary treatments that might be less effective or be more likely to cause significant side effects.

What is a Penicillin Allergy?
Penicillin isn't just one antibiotic. Penicillins and the closely related Cephalosporins are a whole family of antibiotics, used to fight bacterial infections. The Penicillin family of antibiotics represent over a half century of antibiotic development and are some of the most commonly prescribed, safest, and most effective antibiotics we have. People who have a true penicillin allergy may have to avoid all of these medications.

Many people believe they’re allergic to penicillin because they experienced a bad reaction to it in the past or because a parent or even a health care provider told them they were allergic, but studies have shown that at  least 90% (and maybe 99%) of people who believe they are allergic to penicillins are not allergic to them at all.

Often times people believe they are allergic because they had a reaction when they were very young. The reaction may have been a rash they developed soon after they were given an antibiotic for an infection. But its very common for viruses to cause rashes especially in young children. In most cases the rash was caused by the virus and not the antibiotic.

Other people were told they were allergic because they developed nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness or some other symptom after taking an antibiotic but most of these symptom may have also been caused by the infection itself. Even if they were caused by the antibiotic these are intolerance symptoms, not allergic symptoms. The difference is important because an allergy can be more severe the second time around and in rare cases can become a life threatening anaphylactic reaction but intolerance never leads to anaphylaxis

Other people were told to report a penicillin allergy because a family member was allergic to penicillin but even if that family member had a true allergy, these allergies are not hereditary.

Why Test for Penicillin Allergy?

1. Penicillin is often the best choice for treating infections.
   Penicillin and other related antibiotics are highly effective at treating many common infections, including strep throat, ear infections, pneumonia and many very serious infections. If you’re allergic to penicillin, doctors will have to choose a different antibiotic, and some of those alternatives might not work as well or could cause side effects like nausea or diarrhea.
2. Penicillin allergies are often misdiagnosed.
   As states above studies have shown more than 90% of people who believe they’re allergic to penicillin are not truly allergic. That means if you haven’t been tested, you could be unnecessarily avoiding a medication that’s safest and most effective for you.
3. Testing is easy and reliable.
   The good news is that getting tested for a penicillin allergy is a straightforward process. There are two main ways to test for an allergy: a skin test and a blood test. The skin test involves placing a tiny amount of penicillin on your skin to see if it causes a reaction. If you’re allergic, your skin will break out in a rash. If you’re not allergic, there won’t be any reaction. This test is quick, and the results are usually available in just 15 minutes.
   If the skin test is negative, your doctor may also perform a blood test to check for specific antibodies that your body would produce if it were allergic to penicillin. This testing is accurate, simple, and can give you peace of mind about your allergy status.
4. You could avoid unnecessary treatments and could save your life.
   If you are not allergic to penicillin, knowing that could help your doctor prescribe it when appropriate. If you continue to tell your doctor you’re allergic, they will have to give you a different antibiotic that could have more side effects or be less effective. Studies have shown that patients admitted to the hospital with a penicillin allergy in their record have a higher mortality rate and are more likely to develop wound infections
5. It’s never too late to get tested.
   Even if you’ve had penicillin before and had a bad reaction, it’s still worth getting tested to confirm whether you’re truly allergic. Sometimes, reactions that seem like allergies can be the result of other factors, like a viral illness or taking another medication at the same time. If you’ve been avoiding penicillin for years based on an old diagnosis, now might be a good time to get tested and reassess your options.

How to Get Tested
If you think you might be allergic to penicillin, the first step is to talk to your doctor. They will ask you about your past reactions and might recommend testing. The tests are typically done by an allergist or a specialist in immunology.

During your appointment, the doctor will walk you through the process and explain what to expect. If the results show that you are not allergic to penicillin, you’ll have more treatment options available to you the next time you need antibiotics.

The Bottom Line: It’s Worth It
Penicillin and related antibiotics are among the safest and most effective antibiotics we have. If you’re avoiding it because you think you’re allergic, you could be missing out on your best treatment option and could be putting your health at risk at some point in the future. Getting tested for a penicillin allergy is simple and highly accurate.

It's important to understand that no one should assume their penicillin allergy is incorrect, but if you’ve ever been told you’re allergic to penicillin no matter how certain that person was, consider getting tested. It could be a small step that makes a big difference in your health. Remember, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have. They can help guide you through the process of getting tested and understanding your options.

By learning whether you're truly allergic to penicillin, you’re making an informed choice about your health. Don’t let misconceptions or outdated information hold you back from receiving the most effective treatments available!