Penicillin Allergy

Penicillin allergy is one of the most well documented medication allergies known to man. Once a person who is unknowingly allergic to penicillin pops in the drug, its severe and debilitating effects will definitely takes its toll on the person.

Penicillin is widely known as an affordable drug that combats viral and bacterial infections. However, the drug belongs to beta-lactam antibiotics, a group of drugs that are also known to possess the same content that induces allergic reactions once taken. The reactions are borne from the body mistakenly considering penicillin as a harmful product. The body would then start releasing antibodies known as immunoglobulin E (IgE), which are responsible in triggering the reactions. Some people immediately begin allergic reactions at the onset of taking the drug, but for those who do not have penicillin allergy, they can develop it through constant exposure.

Common signs that determine whether the person is allergic to penicillin are itchy eyes, swollen lips, and rashes. The worst possible effect that the person would encounter with penicillin is anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that causes short of breath, lightheartedness, slurred speech, and wheezing, among others. Therefore, once the symptoms have manifested themselves, immediately consult your doctor.

The doctor will conduct a test on you to determine the allergic level of your body on penicillin and other products as well. A skin test is performed by exposing a piece of your skin and subjecting it to different allergens to determine reactions that occur from it. Blood testing serves as an alternative to skin testing, and is done by drawing blood from the veins and checking the level of IgE once subjected to the allergens.

When the doctor has finally determined that the person indeed has penicillin allergy, he will give you a prescription on which medication to take in order to control the allergy. During allergic attacks, the person can mediate minor bodily responses by taking antihistamine, while a shot of corticosteroid may be necessary for severe allergic reactions. Increasing or altering the dosage of your medication intake should be asked to your doctor. Once the drugs have already kicked in, the person can start the desensitization process, where professionals encourage the person to take penicillin at gradually increasing amount and in a hospital-controlled environment to see any signs of allergic reactions. However, this process does not apply to everybody, so people must process with caution.