Not all claimed drug allergies are true allergies

75 adult patients with drug allergies identified on their charts were interviewed by a pharmacy student to assess the incidence of true allergic reactions. 161 allergic reactions were identified: 33% of patients claiming multiple allergies; 21 96 claiming 2; 46 % claiming I. Penicillin allergy was most common (51 %), followed by 'sulphas' (23 %), aspirin (20 %), codeine (19 %)

and a variety of other drugs including iodinated IV dyes. Only 23 of 3 8 patients (6 I % ) claiming penicillin allergy could be defmitely said to have had allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, urticaria, rash or swelling) while 7 were possibly allergic and 8 were defmitely not allergic. Of all reported allergies, 3396 could be labelled 'definitely allergic', 21 % 'possibly allergic' and 46 % 'non-allergic'. 8 % of all reactions involved anaphylaxis primarily with penicillins and IV dyes, while most non-allergic reactions were gastrointestinal. '!(indeed almost one haff of all slated medication allergies are not Irue allergies, then it seems important to carefully evaluate the a{{ergy history ill order not to compromise medical care.' Hardin, T.C. eta!.: American lournal of Hospital Pharmacy 38 1879<Dec 1981)

2 Reactions 2 Apr 1982 0157-7271/8210402-0002/0$01.00/0 © ADISPress