Study Finds 99 Percent of Children Labeled Allergic to Penicillin Are Not
A new Hillel Yaffe Medical Center study reveals that nearly 99 percent of children labeled allergic to penicillin are not actually allergic, preventing unnecessary use of alternative antibiotics.
Penicillin remains one of the most common antibiotics prescribed for bacterial infections such as strep throat, ear infections, and urinary tract infections. However, many children labeled as allergic to the medication are actually not, according to a new study conducted at the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.
The research, led by Dr. Vered Schichter-Confino, head of the Allergy and Immunology Unit, examined 305 children referred for penicillin allergy evaluations between 2019 and 2023. The findings were recently accepted for publication in the scientific journal Frontiers in Allergy.
Oral Challenge Results
During the evaluation process, patients underwent medical assessments, skin tests, or oral food challenges—a controlled administration of the antibiotic under medical supervision. The results showed that approximately 99 percent of the children who underwent the oral challenge did not develop an allergic reaction and were cleared of the allergy label.
The study also tracked patients for five years following the screening. Among 240 children with confirmed tolerance, 63.7 percent successfully resumed penicillin use without adverse reactions. Meanwhile, 36.3 percent did not use the antibiotic again, largely due to a lack of clinical need during the period, lingering parental fears, or misunderstandings of medical guidelines.
Implications of Misdiagnosis
Dr. Schichter-Confino emphasized that proving a child is not allergic is only part of the solution; ensuring parents understand the results is crucial for future treatments. Misdiagnosing a penicillin allergy often leads to broader-spectrum antibiotic alternatives, increasing side effects and contributing to global antibiotic resistance.
Experts advise that a rash appearing during antibiotic treatment does not automatically indicate an allergy. Parents whose children were previously labeled as allergic should consult an allergy specialist rather than avoiding the medication indefinitely.
