Why Penicillin Testing Matters Even If You've Never Had a Reaction

Most Americans are familiar with the drug penicillin. After all, it’s often prescribed for common bacterial infections along with amoxicillin, which is the same drug class. While 90% of the population can take penicillin, the remaining 10% say they’re allergic to it. But is that true?  

Our board-certified allergists with Advanced Allergy & Asthma urge our patients and the population to get tested to determine whether you’re allergic to this drug. Why? Several important reasons may affect not only your health but that of others. 

Self-report allergies to penicillin may not be accurate

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) reports that up to 90% of people who believe they’re allergic to penicillin aren’t allergic to it and can tolerate it. How does this happen? 

For example, suppose your child takes penicillin for a throat infection and develops a skin rash or another health issue soon after. In that case, you and your doctor may conclude that your loved one is allergic to penicillin. However, the rash may have nothing to do with the antibiotic prescription. Your child should be tested to see if they’re allergic. The AAAAI says more often than not, people who think they’re allergic to the drug are not allergic. 

Penicillin has superior effectiveness 

Penicillin treats bacterial infections directly by destroying the bacterial cell wall, unlike other antibiotics, which may be less effective. It kills bacterial cells but doesn’t harm other healthy cells. For these reasons, it’s the preferred antibiotic to treat bacterial infections. 

Growing antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics are sometimes overused and misused when treating both humans and animals. For example, if you have a viral infection, antibiotics won’t cure it. This misuse increases the chances that the antibiotic won’t work for you when you need it. If you begin taking an antibiotic and don’t finish it because you feel better, new antibiotic-resistant bacteria can develop. 

If you think you have a penicillin allergy, your doctor prescribes another antibiotic. That drug might be less effective and produce more side effects than penicillin. The only way to know if you’re allergic to penicillin is to take a penicillin allergy test. 

Because antibiotics have been used too often in the US and elsewhere, superbugs such as MRSA have developed. These are hard to treat and require massive doses of antibiotics to cure. Using non-penicillin antibiotics can lead to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. 

Get a penicillin allergy test

We provide safe and effective penicillin allergy tests. The test is a simple pinprick to the skin. If you develop a raised, red area on your skin at the site of the skin prick, you’re allergic to the drug. If you do not react, you’re most likely not allergic. If there’s any doubt, we administer an oral dose of penicillin, which confirms a negative test. 

Call Advanced Allergy & Asthma or request an appointment through our online portal today for your penicillin allergy test.