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Allergist's Tool Helps Identify True Penicillin Allergies
10 Nov
Summary
- 90% of people who think they have penicillin allergy can actually tolerate it
- Misdiagnosis common as symptoms often caused by infection, not antibiotics
- Penicillin is most effective for common ailments like ear infections and pneumonia
As of November 10th, 2025, a B.C. allergist has developed a tool to help healthcare professionals accurately assess whether patients who believe they have a penicillin allergy actually do. According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, around 10% of people report having a penicillin allergy, but less than 1% truly do.
The allergist, Dr. Tiffany Wong, co-lead of the penicillin de-labelling project, says misdiagnosis is common. Certain symptoms that are mistaken for a penicillin allergy are often caused by the infection itself, rather than the antibiotics. For instance, a child may develop a rash while taking antibiotics, but the rash is attributed to the medication rather than the initial illness.
Through extensive research, Dr. Wong has found that over 90% of people who think they are allergic to penicillin can actually tolerate it. This is significant because penicillin is the most effective treatment for many common ailments, including ear infections and pneumonia. Alternative antibiotics are usually less effective, more expensive, and can sometimes lead to serious side effects.
To address this issue, Dr. Wong has developed a patient-led assessment tool to help people determine if they are at low risk of having a penicillin allergy. She has also worked to increase awareness and get more healthcare professionals involved in the de-labelling process, though she says there is still a long way to go.
