Penicillin allergy occurs when your immune system becomes hypersensitive to the drug - mistakenly reacting to the drug as a harmful substance, as if it were a viral or bacterial infection.īefore the immune system can become sensitive to penicillin, you have to be exposed to the medication at least once. It's important to understand and discuss what is an allergic reaction, what is a typical side effect and what you can tolerate in taking a medication.Ĭall 911 or emergency medical help if you experience signs of a severe reaction or suspected anaphylaxis after taking penicillin. See your doctor as soon as possible if you experience signs or symptoms of penicillin allergy. Signs or symptoms of an infection for which you are being treated - or unrelated symptoms - also may be mistaken as an allergic drug reaction. Depending on the type of penicillin, common side effects may include mild nausea or diarrhea, headache, or vaginal itching. You may experience side effects of penicillin - as happens with other medications - that are not an allergic reaction to the drug. Inflammation in the kidneys (nephritis), which can cause fever, blood in the urine, general swelling, confusion, and other signs and symptomsĪdverse events that are not allergic reactions.
#Face peeling side effects skin#
Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, which involves severe blistering and peeling of the skin.Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which results in rash, high white blood cell counts, general swelling, swollen lymph nodes and recurrence of dormant hepatitis infection.Drug-induced anemia, a reduction in red blood cells, which can cause fatigue, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath, and other signs and symptoms.Serum sickness, which may cause fever, joint pain, rash, swelling and nausea.Less-common penicillin allergy reactions occur days or weeks after exposure to the drug and may persist for some time after you stop taking it. Tightening of the airways and throat, causing trouble breathingĭelayed reactions resulting from penicillin allergy.Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Penicillin allergy signs and symptoms may include:Īnaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening allergic reaction that causes the widespread dysfunction of body systems. Less commonly, reactions can occur hours, days or weeks later. Signs and symptoms of penicillin allergy often occur within an hour after taking the drug.
A drug rash usually starts within two weeks of taking a new medication and begins as discrete red spots that spread, covering large areas of the body.