Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin group of drugs. It is mainly used for treating bacterial infections, such as ear infection, pneumonia, bladder infection, gonorrhea, etc. It works by inhibiting the formation of bacterial wall. Like any other medication, drugs of the penicillin group including amoxicillin can produce some adverse side effects in certain individuals. These side effects can be non-allergic as well as allergic. Both children and adults can experience an allergic reaction to amoxicillin. The symptoms of such allergic reactions are usually similar in both adults and children. So, let’s have a look at some of the common side effects as well as allergic reaction to amoxicillin in infants and adults.

Non-allergic Side Effects of Amoxicillin
Generally, the common side effects of amoxicillin are not very severe in nature. Such moderate side effects include, nausea, vomiting, headache, mild abdominal pain, thrush and vaginal discharge and itching. But, some individuals can experience certain serious side effects of amoxicillin such as, severe stomach pain, fever, skin rash, body aches and weakness, watery or bloody diarrhea, unusual bruising or bleeding, confusion and seizures, which require immediate medical attention.

Allergic Reaction to Amoxicillin in Children and Adults
In addition to the above mentioned mild to severe side effects of amoxicillin, some individuals are likely to experience allergic reaction to this drug. Usually, individuals who have earlier developed hypersensitivity to penicillin, as well as those having allergies like, asthma, urticaria and hay fever are more likely to develop allergic reaction to amoxicillin. Usually, such allergic reaction manifest in skin rash, itching, urticaria or hives and unexplained swelling of the body, especially swelling of the face, throat, lips and tongue. Breathing difficulty can also be one of the most important symptoms of allergic reaction to amoxicillin.

Out of all these allergic reaction to amoxicillin symptoms, rash or skin rash may not always be associated with allergic reaction. Such skin rash usually develops on the trunk, and then spread to other areas of the body, and look similar to measles. However, it is usually not possible to differentiate skin rash which is non-allergic, from the one caused by allergic reaction. » Read more: Allergic Reaction to Amoxicillin