{"id":1708,"date":"2019-01-23T14:40:19","date_gmt":"2019-01-23T20:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwhearing.fm1.dev\/?p=1708"},"modified":"2021-06-04T17:33:41","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T22:33:41","slug":"think-you-have-a-penicillin-allergy-the-good-news-is-you-may-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwent.net\/think-you-have-a-penicillin-allergy-the-good-news-is-you-may-not\/","title":{"rendered":"Think you have a penicillin allergy? The good news is you may not!"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Roughly 10% of the population believes they have a penicillin allergy. The truth is that fewer than 10% of people with a reported penicillin allergy actually have one. This topic has garnered significant attention recently after a large review article published by the Journal of the American Medical Association highlighted this important issue. The article \u2013 jointly endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America \u2013 urges individuals who have been diagnosed to confirm with a certified allergist for a variety of reasons.<\/p>\n
Even if someone had a true allergic reaction to penicillin, this particular allergy often dissipates after about ten years. Once someone has confirmed with an allergist that they are no longer allergic, the patient often times has better future treatment of infections, fewer dangerous side effects of the antibiotics used in place of penicillin, and overall lower cost of care. Penicillins tend to be safer to use than the antibiotics which are used instead in those who are labeled as allergic.<\/p>\n
Patients can get mislabeled as allergic to penicillin in a number of ways. They may have experienced drug-related side effects like, headaches, nausea or diarrhea, which are not true allergic reactions. Alternatively, they may develop a rash. While rashes can be a sign of an allergic reaction, many rashes that occur with amoxicillin or penicillin are actually caused an underlying viral illness. One visit to a board-certified allergist can help determine of the allergy is still present.<\/p>\n