Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers
Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers questions about medicines. This time: allergic reactions, what should I do now?
I am allergic to penicillin and was recently given clindamycin for a jaw infection. After a few days I was covered in the rash, just like ever with penicillin. What now?
Answer:
Penicillin allergy is common and has different manifestations. In the worst case, a very severe and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction occurs shortly after ingestion. So every reason to be careful. Yet it turns out that only 10 percent of all people who report a penicillin allergy are actually allergic. The rest suffer from side effects such as skin rashes. It is not always necessary to avoid penicillins. It can even become a problem with infections against which penicillins are most effective. In that case you will wrongly receive different, less good treatment. Only a skin test by the allergist or dermatologist can show whether there really is an allergy. It is best to make an estimate with your doctor first.
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Sources):
- Plus Magazine