Mayo Clinic Minute: Are you allergic to penicillin or not?

Penicillin belongs to a group of antibiotics used by doctors to combat a wide array of bacterial infections, including strep throat, ear infections and pneumonia. Penicillin, one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics, is also one of the most frequently reported medication allergies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 10% of people living in the U.S.  report having a penicillin allergy. However, less than 1% are truly allergic.

Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, says if your healthcare team can't prescribe the preferred antibiotic for your bacterial infection due to a listed allergy, it can pose additional risks to your health.
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