South Florida ENT | Allergy Testing | Penicillin

South Florida ENT | Allergy Testing | Penicillin

Did you know that 9 out of 10 patients who claim to have a penicillin allergy aren’t really allergic and can safely take penicillin and related antibiotics? Having a drug allergy can be serious and it is important to know for sure. An allergy to penicillin-type medications can be easily identified through a skin test.

People are mistakenly thought to be allergic for many reasons. One reason is from symptom confusion. For example, a rash thought to be from penicillin may have been caused by the current illness and not the penicillin antibiotic. In addition, medications can sometimes cause side effects such as an upset stomach or other discomforts that may be misdiagnosed as an allergy. The only way to know if you are truly allergic is to be tested.

Skin testing for penicillin is a three step process. Your doctor will first scratch the surface of your skin a few times. If you receive a positive allergy testing result the test stops there, but if your test is negative your doctor will proceed to the next step. The next step is called intradermal testing and this consists of a few small injections just under the skins surface. Lastly, your doctor may decide to give you a test dose, which involves being given a penicillin tablet while under observation.

Allergy Testing

Questions you should be ready to answer prior to the testing regarding why you think you have a penicillin allergy are as follows:

• What kind of reaction occurred?
• How long ago did the reaction occur?
• How did you treat the reaction?
• What was the outcome after you treated it?
• Were you taking any other medications when the reaction occurred?
• Weston ENT | Pembroke Pines ENT Allergy Testing

Weston ENT | Pembroke Pines ENT Allergy Testing

Why does getting tested matter? Understanding whether or not you are really allergic to penicillin and other drugs is important for your health and potential resistance to antibiotics in the future. For many illnesses, penicillin is often the best antibiotic to use and it is usually less expensive than other medications. If you are in Weston, Pembroke Pines, or its surrounding areas we are here to help.

Ask us whether or not you are a candidate for testing and discuss the benefits and risks of getting tested.

To find out more about testing for allergies and how we can help you improve your quality of life call Odalys Alfonso at (954) 389-1414 or fill the short form below.