While going through penicillin medication, there are many who have to deal with its side effects. Let us get to know these side effects through the following article.
Dealing with infections, be it bacterial, viral, or fungal, the medication which perhaps works wonders are the antibiotics. These are chemically manufactured drugs which help getting rid of harmful pathogens. Why antibiotics? Mainly because they are highly effective in less dosage.
Well, when it comes to dealing with bacteria, the most common antibiotic prescribed is penicillin. Here you need to know that penicillin is a group of antibiotics which work well against all bacterial infections mainly by acting on the cell wall.
Better known as beta lactam group of antibiotics, these are characterized by beta lactam ring in its structure. We don’t know how many of you are aware, but penicillin was the first ever effective antibiotic and thus the mention! However, overuse of antibiotic and related allergies result in side effects significant in women, men, and children. So, let us see what they are.
Side Effects of Penicillin
After knowing what is penicillin used for, it is essential to understand its side effects as well. Whenever any individual is under this medication, the dosage is recommended according to the severity of the infection, always. However, some people are not able to withstand this dosage and are basically allergic to penicillin. The result – side effects. These would differ from individual to individual and his/her resistance power, of course.
See the list of side effects in women and men given below.
- Anaphylaxis
- Blood in urine
- Light colored urine
- Swollen face or ankles
- Breathing difficulty
- Tiredness
- Dark or amber-colored urine
- Pale stools
- Stomach pain
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Abdominal cramps or pain
- Bloating
- Bloody or watery diarrhea
- Fever
- Increased thirst
- Excessive vomiting
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Seizures
- Unusual bleeding
Among these side effects, the most prominent, fatal, and commonest one is anaphylaxis that is severe allergic reaction to penicillin. Maximum number of individuals are known to show the penicillin allergy rash on their body. Though initially, it might not seem like a problem, late diagnosis can lead to complications and death, in worst cases.
There are individuals who show minor rashes alone that can be dealt with easily; however, those who are highly sensitive to penicillin and whose immune system detects it as a foreign material will show extreme penicillin allergy.
You need to undergo the penicillin allergy test as soon as you experience the following symptoms. It is recommended that you seek doctor’s help immediately, if you have been dealing with these symptoms a way bit too far.
- Hives
- Severe rashes
- Itchy skin and eyes
- Wheezing
- Swollen lips, tongue or face
- Breathing difficulty
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Rapid or weak pulse
- Drop in blood pressure
- Throat tightness
If you are wondering whether the side effects are prevalent in children or younger sections, then the answer is yes. Children do show the penicillin allergy; however, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset are some of the common side effects in children. Another thing is the penicillin rash test.
It is very important to undergo this test to confirm the allergy because many times, the symptoms turn out to be non-allergic and the result of some other health issue, and therefore, a test can only confirm penicillin allergy.
A doctor would be able to understand a great deal on the same, and hence, it is necessary to give a visit as early as possible. The most probable treatments are some medication drugs, which would give allergy relief and of course, stopping or reducing the penicillin intake, right there.
This was all about the side effects in men, women, and children. There is not much you could do about them as well as the allergy. All we would say is, early diagnosis would help a great deal here. Take care.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and it should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
