Penicillin allergy is one of the most commonly reported drug allergies. However, around 95% of patients with a penicillin allergy label have not experienced a true allergic reaction. It is possible to test for a penicillin allergy to see if you are genuinely allergic.
It is important to be able to distinguish whether you have a true allergy to penicillin or are just experiencing side effects of penicillin. A true penicillin allergy has any of the following:
- Occurs immediately or within 1 hour of taking penicillin
- Hives
- Localised swelling
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
- Anaphylaxis
Side effects to penicillin are not true allergies and therefore should not be a reason for avoiding penicillin if it is required. The following are side effects to penicillin:
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Vaginal itching
Penicillin allergy testing on the NHS is very rare unless it is carried out by a specialist. However new guidelines by the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) have recently been issued about penicillin de-labelling for healthcare workers, so this is something that may become available routinely in the future. For further information on getting a test for penicillin allergy, speak to your doctor, pharmacist or contact the patient support service at Antibiotic Research UK.