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Medical IDs for Penicillin Allergy



According to the World Allergy Association, penicillin, aspirin, and sulfonamides account for over 80 percent of allergic drug reactions worldwide. Approximately 1 to 3 percent of patient courses of penicillin are complicated by allergic reactions.

Since penicillin allergy is not unique to any group, we offer medical ID jewelry for men, women, and children. Here are some helpful tips when shopping for a penicillin allergy bracelet.

What is Penicillin?

Penicillin is a widely used antibiotics that is effective against common bacterial infections. Up to 10 percent of people report being allergic to penicillin. A person with a confirmed allergy to a penicillin antibiotic may experience different reactions that can range from mild to severe, and occur immediately or gradually after taking the drug. Some of these reactions could be:

  • Rash and itching
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing
  • Swelling
  • Unconsciousness
  • Anaphylaxis

 

Penicillin is the most common cause of anaphylaxis. It can occur minutes after taking the drug and can be fatal if not treated right away. Anaphylaxis requires an immediate epinephrine injection and hospital care to maintain blood pressure and support breathing, this is a major reason for those with penicillin allergy to wear a penicillin bracelet, necklace, or some other form of medical ID.


Penicillin Allergy Bracelet & Wristband Options

Since our products are 100% custom engraved, any of our medical ID bracelets will work for notifying of a penicillin allergy. It’s important to select the right metal type and style of your bracelet. We offer stainless steel, sterling silver, titanium, gold filled, 10 Kt and 14Kt gold as metal types and feature different styles of chains, NATO and leather bands, and more!

Our Penicillin Allergy Necklace Options

We offer similar variety in our necklaces, featuring many different styles from petite pendants to dog tags and more.

 

"As a child I grew up with a few health issues, one being major digestive issues. I would have to be force fed antibiotics because every time I would take an antibiotic, like penicillin, it would make me vomit, give me uncomfortable rashes, cause horrible stomach pains, fevers and so forth. Being so young I couldn't always communicate when something wasn't right with my body. Trying one medication after another my parents quickly learned that I was allergic to many types of antibiotics, particularly those in the penicillin family.

The side effects of my allergies to medications were severe and made an impact on my life as an adult navigating my health. Now, I care for my health through holistic remedies to prevent the usage of antibiotics. Being proactive for my health instead of reactive has helped me navigate through life without antibiotics for over 5 years. Penicillin is one of the top drugs used to fight off infection, which is why I always wear or carry my medical ID. I know if there is a time that I am unable to state all my allergies for myself, the ID is there to protect me and my well-being. Be an advocate for your own health and take advantage of tools like American Medical ID to protect yourself." - Stefanie Rodrigues, Holistic Life Coach at One Pace Holistic Health


Communicating Penicillin Allergy in an Emergency


Prompt diagnosis is vital for drug hypersensitivity such as an allergic reaction to penicillin. A medical alert ID can help in emergencies when timely identification and early withdrawal of a suspected drug can be vital. It can also help avoid exposure and re-exposure to the offending penicillin medicine.

Why a Penicillin Allergy Card isn’t Enough.

Emergency personnel will first look at your wrist and neck to see if you are wearing a medical ID. It is possible that without a bracelet or necklace, the first responder will not know, or possibly be unable to, look in your wallet for the allergy card. By always wearing a penicillin alert bracelet you guarantee you have this information to hand if the worst case scenario arises.

 

Information about a person’s allergy to antibiotics can save a life.

A study shows that surgical site infection was found to be 50 percent higher in patients with a reported penicillin allergy. This why people who are allergic to penicillin are recommended to inform medical providers before being administered treatment. A medical ID bracelet or necklace can speak for you in emergencies when you may be unconscious or unable to.

If an allergist or immunologist recommends that a person carries allergy treatment or supplies like an epinephrine autoinjector or epi pen, information on the epi pen's location such as it being inside a bag or pocket can be included on a custom-engraved medical alert bracelet or necklace.

 

penicillin allergy emergency penicillin allergy emergency

What to Engrave on a Penicillin Allergy Alert Bracelet & Necklace

The effectiveness of a medical ID depends on the accuracy of its engraving. A custom engraved medical ID tag, charm, or pendant makes it possible to engrave a person’s unique set of allergies, medical conditions, and emergency contacts. It is recommended that a medical ID contain the at least the following important information:

 

A general concern about engraving a medical ID is fitting all medical information on a medical ID plate or tag. Nowadays, medical ID tags come in different styles, shapes, and sizes. Each can hold different lengths of engraved information. The commonly used abbreviation for penicillin is PCN, for others see our guide on medical ID engraving. Here are a few engraving examples:

what to put on penicillin id bracelet what to put on penicillin id bracelet

Important reminder: Only wear a penicillin allergy medical alert jewelry after a confirmed diagnosis such as from positive penicillin challenge or allergy testing. A misdiagnosed penicillin allergy may result in the use of less-appropriate or more-expensive antibiotics without penicillin. Please consult your doctor or allergist for more information.

 

Should I wear a medical alert bracelet for penicillin allergy?

Yes.  An emergency responder may need to alter your treatment to avoid complications caused by allergic reactions.

 

What is the symbol for penicillin allergy?

In order to save space on your medical ID, “Penicillin” can be shortened to “PCN” and “Allergy” can be shortened to “ALGY.” So “Penicillin Allergy” can be written as “PCN ALGY” to conserve engraving space.

 

Should I still carry a penicillin allergy card if I wear one of these items?

Everyone who wears a medical ID should carry a complementary medical ID card with comprehensive medical information.


who wears a penicillin medical id who wears a penicillin medical id

“I wasn’t diagnosed with a penicillin allergy until my mid-20s... I randomly broke out in a head to toe rash a few days into treatment and was told to immediately stop the antibiotic. Due to the severity of my rash, my doctor said he was unsure how I would react if I was exposed again and that I needed to avoid penicillin and other related antibiotic derivatives going forward. Being a type 1 diabetic too, I know there is a risk that I could lose consciousness at some point, so it’s important for me to have both my diabetes info and my allergy information on my medical ID.” - Mary Ellen Phipps, MPH, RDN, LD at Milk and Honey Nutrition


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