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Penicillin allergy is a common immune response to the drug, causing mild to severe symptoms. Symptoms include hives, rash, swelling, and wheezing, with anaphylactic shock being a life-threatening reaction. Penicillin is a popular antibiotic, but those with allergies to it or related drugs should watch for reactions. Risk factors include frequent use, HIV, cystic fibrosis, age, and past reactions. Serious reactions require immediate medical attention.
A penicillin allergy occurs when the body’s immune response reacts to the drug as if it were a harmful substance. This can cause mild to severe symptoms, depending on the patient’s immune response. Penicillin allergy is the most common drug allergy, although it’s not known why some people get it and others don’t.
Symptoms of a penicillin allergy include hives, rash, itching, swelling of the face or lips, and wheezing. These are usually mild reactions and may not lead to stopping your penicillin use, especially if the disease being treated is more serious. More serious allergic reactions can include anaphylactic shock. Signs of this life-threatening condition include shortness of breath, severe swelling of the tongue, face or lips, a drop in blood pressure or loss of consciousness. All allergic reactions should be reported to a doctor.
Penicillin is part of a class of antibiotics known as beta-lactam antibiotics. They are commonly used to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, throat, ears and sinuses. Their popularity among physicians is partly due to their effectiveness and relatively inexpensive cost of production. If a patient is allergic to one type of drug in this drug family, then there is a good chance she will have a similar reaction to others as well.
Patients may develop penicillin allergy symptoms even if they have used the drug previously with no known problems. This allergy is not something a patient is born with and usually occurs after he or she has been exposed to a drug of the penicillin family. For this reason, even those who have not had previous allergy symptoms should watch out for any signs of a reaction during the first 24 hours of taking penicillin.
Risk factors for developing an allergic reaction to penicillin or a related drug include taking penicillin frequently, having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), having cystic fibrosis, being between the ages of 20 and 49, or developing an allergic reaction to a penicillin product in the past.
Serious allergic reactions are considered medical emergencies. Immediate medical attention is needed to open the airways and prevent shock. Any patient who has difficulty breathing, feels faint, dizzy or nauseous after taking penicillin should be taken to the nearest hospital or medical center.
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