Penicillin Allergy

A healthcare provider will diagnose a penicillin allergy after a complete medical history, physical exam and testing. Your provider will review your symptoms and they’ll offer immediate treatment if you’re having severe symptoms that could be life-threatening.

To confirm a diagnosis, your provider will perform an allergy test. During an allergy scratch test, your provider will drop two components of penicillin on your skin. A scratch is made through each drop. After 15 minutes, your provider will look for a skin reaction that includes skin discoloration, itchy skin and hives.

If the scratch test is negative, your provider may perform another type of allergy test called an intradermal test. During this test, your provider will use a small needle to place a tiny amount of penicillin underneath your skin. You’ll wait 15 minutes to see if you have a skin reaction, which will be a raised red bump (similar to a mosquito bite) at the site of the skin poke.

If both tests are negative, it indicates that you’re at low risk for a severe, immediate allergic or anaphylactic reaction to penicillin.

You may need to take penicillin under your provider’s supervision so they can monitor how you react. You’ll take a dose of penicillin or another penicillin-type drug like amoxicillin and you’ll be observed for 30 minutes to see how your body reacts.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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