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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPenicillin allergy is an overreaction by your immune system to penicillin and related antibiotics. If you have a penicillin allergy, your reaction to taking the antibiotic may range from a rash to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Penicillin allergy is the most common drug allergy. Penicillin antibiotics are widely prescribed for bacterial infections such as strep throat. However, not all unfavorable reactions to penicillin are a true penicillin allergy.
It isn't clear why some people develop penicillin allergy. Once you've had an allergic reaction to penicillin, the simplest way to prevent penicillin allergy is to avoid penicillin and related antibiotics.
- Yates A. Management of patients with a history of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics. The American Journal of Medicine. 2008;121:572.
- Solensky R. Allergy to penicillins. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 15, 2009.
- Karabus S, et al. Penicillin allergy in children. Current Allergy & Clinical Immunology. 2009;22:64.
- Solensky R. Patient information: Allergy to penicillin and related antibiotics. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 24, 2009.
- Inamdar R, et al. Penicillin hypersensitivity. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/members/allied_health/articlesofinterest/penicillin.stm. Accessed September 24, 2009.
- Pegler S, et al. In patients allergic to penicillin, consider second and third generation cephalosporins for life threatening infections. British Medical Journal. 2007;335:991.
