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PhrasesAllergies and MedicationsSono allergico alla penicillina.
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Sono allergico alla penicillina.

I am allergic to penicillin.

Pronunciation

pe-ni-chil-LI-na — five syllables, stress on fourth. 'Penicillina' — the 'c' before 'i' is soft.

When to use it

Always state this before any antibiotic prescription. Carry a card or note in Italian if you have this allergy.

What it means

'Sono allergico/a alla penicillina' uses 'essere' + 'allergico' (feminine: allergica). 'Alla' = to the (preposition di + article la contracted). Penicillin allergy affects about 10% of the population but true allergy is rarer — Italian allergologists can test with 'test di provocazione' (drug provocation test) to confirm.

Variations

Ho una grave allergia alla penicillina. Ho avuto anafilassi.

I have a severe penicillin allergy. I had anaphylaxis.

State severity — anaphylaxis history changes prescribing choices completely

Penso di essere allergico alle cefalosporine.

I think I am allergic to cephalosporins.

Cross-reactivity between penicillin and cephalosporins — about 1-2% true cross-allergenicity

Ho un'allergia documentata all'amoxicillina.

I have a documented allergy to amoxicillin.

'Documentata' = documented — mention if you have allergy test results

Mini Dialogue

— Sono allergico alla penicillina. È importante che lo sappia. — Grazie per avertelo detto. Che tipo di reazione ha avuto? — Orticaria e gonfiore al viso. — Quindi no alla penicillina e alle cefalosporine per sicurezza. Le prescrivo un macrolide. — Va bene. Grazie per la cautela.

— I am allergic to penicillin. It is important that you know. — Thank you for telling me. What type of reaction did you have? — Hives and facial swelling. — So no penicillin and no cephalosporins to be safe. I will prescribe a macrolide. — That is fine. Thank you for the caution.

Cultural Note

In Italy, drug allergy ('allergia ai farmaci') is documented in the patient's 'fascicolo sanitario elettronico' (electronic health record) and on the medical record. Italian allergologists ('allergologi') at 'centri di allergia' perform skin tests and provocation tests to identify true drug allergies. Penicillin 'allergy' is frequently over-reported — up to 90% of labelled penicillin-allergic patients can safely receive penicillin after proper testing.