Penicillin allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to penicillin. Penicillin is a common antibiotic. If you are allergic to penicillin, severe allergic symptoms often appear after injection (or even skin test) within 10 minutes. Patients have chest tightness, shortness of breath, trembling, convulsions, dizziness, headache, difficulty in breathing, paleness, cold hands and feet, abrupt drop of blood pressure, and rapid and weak pulse. If not treated immediately, patient often dies because of heart and lung failure. For patients with severe allergic reactions, you should immediately get subcutaneous or intravenous injection of 0.5-1 ml of 0.1% epinephrine.
How is Penicillin allergy treated in practice?