National Penicillin Allergy Day is on September 28, 2023.
Penicillin is an antibiotic obtained initially from Penicillium molds. They were some of the first medications to be effective against bacterial infections. Especially those caused by staphylococci and streptococci. They are still widely used today for different bacterial infections.
However, some types of bacteria develop resistance after extensive use.
The History of Penicillin
Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, a Scottish scientist. His student Cecil George Paine was the first to use Penicillin to treat an eye infection in 1930.
The purified compound was isolated in 1940 by Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain at the University of Oxford. Fleming first used the purified Penicillin to treat streptococcal meningitis in 1942. 1945, Fleming shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Florey and Chain.
Since then, several other forms of Penicillin have been developed and are effective against a broader spectrum of bacteria.
Penicillin Allergy
A penicillin allergy is a reaction by your immune system to the antibiotic drug penicillin.
Your immune system is supposed to fight off bacteria that can make you sick. Unfortunately, sometimes, your body fights the medicine instead.
That is what happens when you are allergic to Penicillin. Your immune system thinks it’s an invader and tries to eliminate it.
Penicillin Allergy Symptoms
Some signs that you may notice after taking Penicillin if you are allergic to it are:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Hives
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Swelling
- Runny nose
- Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis
In some cases, people may have anaphylaxis. According to the Mayo Clinic, ‘anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.’ In this case, call 911 if the following symptoms occur:
- Belly pain
- Trouble breathing
- Diarrhea
- Seizures
- Drop in Blood Pressure
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Throat or tongue swelling
- Dizziness or lightheaded
- Passing out
- Tightness in chest
- Throwing up
Reference:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anaphylaxis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351468
Delayed Reactions can also occur
Some allergic reactions can happen days or weeks later. These can include
- Joint Pain
- Swelling
- Rash
- Feeling nauseous
- Exhaustion
- Fever
- Confusion
- Blood in urine
- Serum sickness may cause joint pain, rash, swelling, nausea, and fever.
- Drug-induced anemia is a reduction in red blood cells, which can cause fatigue, an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
- Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) may cause rash, high white blood cell count, general swelling, swollen lymph nodes, and recurrence of dormant hepatitis infection.
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, which involves severe blistering and peeling skin
- Inflammation in the kidneys (nephritis) causes fever, blood in the urine, swelling, confusion, and other symptoms.
We have put together a Penicillin Allergy Evaluation: Commonly Asked Questions
Penicillin Allergy Evaluation: Commonly Asked Questions
Penicillin is an effective medication used to treat bacterial infections. Alternative medicines used in place of Penicillin can put you or your child at greater risk of becoming immune to a more potent medication that could be needed to treat an infection.
What is the benefit of having this evaluation?
An evaluation for penicillin allergy will help you determine if you or your child is at risk for a dangerous reaction or if it would be safe to take this class of medications. If the evaluation is reassuring, you can feel confident about using Penicillin in the future.
If the evaluation shows the potential for a dangerous reaction to penicillin allergy, you will know for sure that it must be avoided.
When will I get the results?
The results of the penicillin allergy evaluation will be known on the same day as your appointment before you even leave the clinic.
How long will the penicillin allergy evaluation take?
The evaluation can take 1½ to 2 hours.
What is involved in the evaluation? Will it hurt?
The evaluation might include allergy skin testing or a penicillin challenge, depending on your or your child’s reaction. Allergy skin testing uses a small number of scratch tests (similar to a sharp fingernail scratching) and intradermal tests (where specialists inject fluid underneath the very top layer of the skin using a tiny needle).
However, if the allergy skin testing is negative, a dose of Penicillin is given in the clinic, and you or your child is monitored for 30-60 minutes.
Sometimes, you don’t need allergy skin testing, especially for children or adults who had reactions as children.
In these situations, doctors give a minimal dose of Penicillin by mouth. If there’s no reaction after 10–15 minutes, they provide a full dose of Penicillin and monitor you or your child for 30–60 minutes.
What if a severe reaction occurs?
The risk of a severe reaction during evaluation for penicillin allergy is very low. However, penicillin allergy evaluation is only done in the Allergy Clinic, where the healthcare providers have extensive experience treating severe reactions quickly and effectively.
Does insurance cover the cost of this evaluation?
Most insurance plans cover the cost of penicillin allergy testing. Check with your specific insurance provider to see your out-of-pocket costs. Be aware that each patient might require different codes, depending on the needed tests.
Furthermore, CPT codes may include: 95018 (6 units), 95024 (2 units), 95004 (2 units), 95076 (1 unit)
When to see a doctor
If you experience any signs or symptoms of a penicillin allergy, you should see your doctor immediately. Therefore, it is essential to understand what an allergic reaction is, what a typical side effect is, and what you can tolerate when taking medication.
Call 911 or emergency medical help if you experience signs of a severe reaction or suspected anaphylaxis.
Learn about your allergy triggers.
