Medication allergies are a major medical issue. A patient who has an allergy to antibiotics might be unable to continue a necessary course of treatment. In the worst cases, they could end up in anaphylactic shock if doctors administer the wrong medications.
Medication allergies are relatively common, especially when it comes to certain classes of drugs. Therefore, best practices in the medical field require that physicians check for allergies to ensure the safety of their patients. There are several ways for doctors to confirm or rule out the presence of a medication allergy. The following are three of the most common ways that doctors can confirm a patient’s sensitivity to a specific type of medication.
Record reviews
A patient’s medical history can include important clues about the likelihood of them tolerating certain drug regimens. For example, a patient who has had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin before is very likely to react poorly to penicillin, as both drugs are in the same family of antibiotics. In some cases, disclosures that patients make about their family history can be helpful as well. While not all allergies are genetic, a family history of sensitivity to certain drugs could give doctors reason to pause and check more carefully before recommending a specific treatment.
Skin tests
One of the simplest ways to test for an allergic reaction is to conduct a skin test. Skin testing can involve small needle pokes or even the application of a medicated patch. The goal is to see if the body reacts strongly to exposure to a particular compound. Skin testing can provide clear evidence of sensitivity to specific medications and can help doctors avoid prescribing the wrong medication.
Blood tests
In scenarios where skin test results seem to indicate a strong reaction or where doctors already have a strong suspicion of a particularly severe allergic reaction, a blood test might be the best option. Such tests can help affirm that a patient cannot safely take certain medications.
Doctors who fail to check for signs of allergies before recommending medication can do their patients a major disservice. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit could help defray the numerous medical expenses generated by a doctor recommending the wrong drug. When doctors don’t follow best practices, patients may have a right to take action and seek compensation for the harm that medical oversights may cause.