What Is an Antibiotic Allergy?
An antibiotic allergy is a histamine reaction to one type of antibiotic. The most commonly reported is allergy to penicillin or other drugs like amoxicillin. It is possible to be allergic to other antibiotics, and a few people are allergic to several of them. This is a serious topic, since allergies may cause life-threatening reactions like anaphylactic shock, but it also must be stated that not all reactions are this severe and some are not theoretically allergic responses. When allergy occurs, the body reacts to a substance with a dramatic inflammatory response that can create a variety of symptoms. Some people who take an antibiotic will develop a rash, which may be either considered the first sign of allergy or a normal response to the drug. Other folks have a graver response that can include development of hives/urticaria, vomiting or diarrhea, swelling of the lips and tongue, and difficulty breathing. In the most severe cases, breathing may stop and organ failure could commence.
