90% of people who think they are allergic to penicillin are not, a senior pharmacist has warned.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) said millions of people mistakenly believe they should avoid antibiotics, increasing the risk of deadly infections.
The experts said many people mistakenly thought they were allergic to antibiotics when they had previously only suffered from common side effects. In other cases, old allergies remained in the records even though they had actually calmed down since childhood.
The association says patients should check their medical records the next time they see their GP to make sure they are not accidentally having an allergic reaction to a drug used to treat an infectious disease. Stated.
A professional association representing pharmacists and pharmacy students said that not taking penicillin could mean taking other antibiotics that may be less effective.
A study found that being labeled allergic to penicillin was associated with an increased mortality rate of six additional deaths per 1,000 patients in the year following treatment.
“Low or very low risk”
A paper published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology recorded that between 6 and 10 percent of the general population in the United Kingdom and United States are allergic to penicillin. However, according to the study, “Comprehensive allergy testing reveals that 90 to 95 percent of these labels are incorrect.”
Another study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy estimated that incorrectly recorded penicillin allergies affected 2.7 million people in the UK alone.
RPS said many people may believe they are allergic to penicillin for a variety of reasons, including if they suffer from common side effects such as nausea or diarrhea. In some cases, infections being treated can cause problems such as rashes, which are considered and reported as allergic reactions.
“Every drug has benefits and harms, so we encourage patients to ask about the penicillin allergy label in their medical records,” said RPS spokesperson Tase Optu.
“Many people have a low or very low risk of developing a genuine penicillin allergy, so careful investigation often reveals that they can safely take penicillin.
“People who have had severe reactions in the past will need allergy testing and may never be able to take penicillin.
“Patients should consult their pharmacist or other health care professional to help them understand the difference between side effects and allergic reactions, which can appear similar, so they can choose the most effective option for their needs. We need to make sure we have access to treatment.”