How Long Can Desensitization Of An Antibiotic Be Effective?

Posted on Wed, 23 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 Answered on

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I recently was treated for syphillis ,but before treatment needed to be desensitized because of my allergy to penicillin,and all the substitutions including doxycycline.(anaphlaxis) I was in the ICU for a total of two days until the Desensitization was complete and was also treated. during discharge the nurse informed me that I no longer had an allergy to penicillin and in the future would be able to take it without any reaction. I was treated on Oct 5. and had blood drawn today to see if titers have reduced, or if during a recent encounter I was reinfected.Long story short will I have to be desensitized again if another treatment of penicillin is needed.

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
desensitization will have to be repeated...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

desensitization works for as long as the antibiotic is administered. The allergy may return afterwards. So the process has to be repeated.

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar