penicillin allergy.... help!

[mouseymummy]

Dd2 had a chest infection last week and was given amoxicillin by the gp.

She's come out in an awful rash and after another trip to the gp today she has been diagnosed with the allergy to penicillin.

The gp has given me some cream to stop her skin getting dry and uncomfortable for her.

But I'm now worried that if she has this allergy, will she have others and am I best to avoid anything?

Dd1 has no allergies or anything so I'm probably acting a little pfb too.

Tia

[SupermanEatsKryptonite]

My oldest two DDs are both allergic to penicillin (and we work on the basis that DD3 is also probably allergic so she's never had any). All three have no other allergies and are pretty healthy in comparison to many of their friends - ie not may sick days off school...although it sometimes feels like they save them for the weekend!

Hope your DD feels better soon.

[ItsintheBag]

My DD has an allergy to penicillin.But after a recent stay in hospital with her this is what peads told me.The rash is not really considered an allergy to penicillin.
Most people as high as 90 % who get a rash from penicillin go onto not being "alergic" to it.
Also the rash is considered to be an adverse reaction,where as anaphylaxis is what is considered to be an allergy to Penicillin.
So don't worry! There are two other antibiotics (that I know of) that she can take if she is unwell.It is likely she may well grow out of it and imo it's the easiest to deal with unlike,egg,nuts and bees.

[ItsintheBag]

Sorry my post makes no sense read back! What I was badly trying to say is that the hives/rash are the non serious end of the allergy scale with penicillin,as you are likely to be able to "grow out of it".
But the anaphylaxis /affecting your breathing end is more serious.
My DD never went any further than a rash.
My previous post suggests that hives are not an allergy and that's not what I meant sorry!.

[mouseymummy]

Thank you both for your replies.

Itsin, thank you for clarifying, I was a little confused but then again, I am sleep deprived (not thanks to dd2 either just neighbours from hell!) And pg so that may have something to do with ny confusion!! I'm not really concerned about that anti biotocs side of things for the time being, its more concern that penicillin allergies link up with other allergies iyswim.

I'm hoping she does grow out of it, as I said in my op, dd1 has no allergies to anything at all so I did (perhaps naively) presume dd2 would be the same.

Superman, do you think that with dd2 having this allergy, that ds1 (due in October) will be presumed to be the same? Is it for the best to just presume?

[SupermanEatsKryptonite]

I wouldn't think so, given that your DD1 doesn't have it. Tbh it's not too much of a hindrance (as its noted on every medical form ever). Only really noticed it if we've had to use OOH doctor and it can sometimes be a struggle for them to find Erythromycin or similar and we have has to wait around or trek round various pharmacies - but we live a bit out in the sticks so I'd assume this wouldn't be a problem for most people.

[mouseymummy]

Ok, thank you superman.

Turns out my twin nephews are the same and my sil has told me to get some calmine (sp) lotion in as she will probably start itching in the next few days and it could go on for 2-3 weeks as this is how long her boys were poorly for. Fuck!

According to dh, the rash now has a look of chicken pox... I don't agree but he thinks its going to be better for her if it is.

Dd1 ended up in hospital with chicken pox (she had them 3 times and got very poorly on the third occasion as she got them internally) so tbh, a penicillin allergy is a preferred option never thought I'd type that sentence

[mouseymummy]

With regards to future meds, we have several large pharmacies near here so should be able to find medication pretty easily, even if it is trial and error to find one that stocks it.

Hopefully, I've exhausted the questions j have for now...
Thank you so much for your help!

[sleepyhead]

I'm allergic to penicillin (fairly badly, face swelling and mouth ulcers as well as the rash) and can honestly say that it's had no adverse affect on my life apart from very occasionally having to remind doctors and writing it on all those forms.

I'm not allergic to anything else and neither are the three other family members that I know of who have the same allergy.

[mouseymummy]

Thank you very much sleepy.

This has been very reassuring to hear, or rather, read! I don't feel as worried now.

The rash is continuing to spread, its now been 2 days since this came up and has spread to her arms, feet, but not her legs as yet. Hands and her head/face.

Poor mite! Hopefully this will stop spreading and will calm down soon! She doesn't seem too uncomfortable yet so I'm hoping this is a good sign she won't start itching!

[louisianablue2000]

I'm allergic to penicillin but nothing else. My grandfather had the same reaction (Mum has never had antibiotics so has no idea if she is allergic or not). It's not a bit issue in my life, although doctors love telling you erythromycin makes some people constipated. Because obviously that's worse than being covered in an itchy blotchy rash...

[Dilidali]

Please tell a doctor about the spreading rash! Call the out of hours doctors and tell them, please.

[Onetwo34]

I am allergic to penicillin but nothing else!

[ducklady]

I am allergic to penicillin, eggs , fish, mushrooms, and now some antibiotics. Awaiting too see yet another specialist.