Many people may have been told that they were allergic to penicillin before being given an allergy test, these individuals are often given antibiotic alternatives that are more expensive and often come with potentially severe side effects.
Recent studies have shown people who have been told they have a penicillin allergy would benefit from a consultation from an allergist and penicillin allergy skin testing, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology reported.
Out of the 348 people who participated in a study and believed they were allergic to penicillin, 94 percent tested negative for a penicillin allergy.
"A large number of people in our study who had a history of penicillin allergy were actually not allergic," said allergist and ACAAI member Thanai Pongdee, lead study author. "They may have had an unfavorable response to penicillin at some point in the past, such as hives or swelling, but they did not demonstrate any evidence of penicillin allergy at the current time. With that in mind, their doctors prescribed different medications prior to surgery."
In a second study, 38 people who had been told they were allergic to penicillin were given allergy tests to see if the high cost of antibiotic alternatives could be reduced. All 38 of the participants tested negative for the allergy and 29 were able to have their medication changed by medical professionals.
"When you are told you have an allergy to something, it's important to be seen and tested by an allergist, who has the specialized training needed for accurate diagnosis and treatment," said allergist James Sublett, ACAAI president-elect. "If you're truly allergic to a medication, your allergist will counsel you on an appropriate substitute."
The findings were presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting.
