
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.
Questions you should be ready to answer prior to the testing regarding why you think you have a penicillin allergy are as follows:
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.
We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By agreeing you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy.