Food Allergies
Symptoms of an allergy caused by certain food types usually happen within some minutes after you ingested food allergens, although there are some that would only occur after several hours. The symptoms may only happen to areas around the lips, mouth, and digestive tract, or could also involve other body areas. Foods that commonly result to allergic reactions are eggs, nuts, milk, fish, soy, shellfish, and wheat.
Mild Symptoms:
- Tingling, itching, or swelling of your mouth, tongue, lips, or throat
- Tightness feeling in your throat
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Nausea
- Indigestion and abdominal cramps
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Skin rashes
- Coughing, congestion, wheezing, or sneezing
- Runny, stuffy, or itchy nose
Severe Symptoms:
- Breathing difficulties
- Sweating, dizziness, and faintness
- Rapid or sudden heart rate increase
- Sudden inability or hoarseness to speak
- Extreme and sudden facial itching and swelling
- Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, sudden, and potentially fatal reaction that has symptoms affecting various body areas. Symptoms commonly manifest very quickly after some exposure to allergens and may include extreme itching all over your body, total swelling of the body, respiratory distress, swelling, and may cause shock that is life endangering. Anaphylaxis requires urgent medical attention. The reaction is most commonly a result of drug, insect sting, or food allergies.
Symptoms include:
- Skin flushing
- Itching or tingling around your body
- Mouth swelling as well as in the throat area
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Tightening of your chest
- Agitation, confusion, or lightheadedness
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, or diarrhea
- Irregular heartbeat
In some severe cases shock might occur. The swelling of your body’s bronchial tissues might cause you to choke before losing consciousness. An abrupt drop in your blood pressure as a result of dilated blood vessels might also cause you to lose consciousness.
In cases that cause anaphylactic shock, it is necessary that you get treatment immediately. Without prompt medical attention, anaphylactic shock might prove fatal.
