Allergy Symptoms?

For some people, an allergic reaction to a particular food may be uncomfortable but not severe. For other people, an allergic food reaction can be frightening and even life-threatening. Food allergy symptoms usually develop within a few minutes to an hour after eating the offending food.

The most common food allergy symptoms include:

■Tingling in the mouth
■Hives, itching or eczema
■Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other parts of the body
■Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
■Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
■Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
Anaphylaxis
In some people, a food allergy can trigger a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can cause life-threatening symptoms, including:

■Constriction and tightening of airways
■A swollen throat or a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe
■Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
■Rapid pulse
■Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
Emergency treatment is critical for anaphylaxis. Untreated, anaphylaxis can cause a coma or death.

Exercise-induced food allergy
Some people have an allergic reaction to a food triggered by exercise. As the body is stimulated by exercise, a person with an exercise-induced food allergy may feel itchy and lightheaded. In serious cases, it can cause reactions such as hives or anaphylaxis. Not eating for a couple of hours before exercising and avoiding certain foods may help prevent this problem.

Pollen-food allergy syndrome
In many people who have hay fever, fresh fruits and vegetables and certain nuts and spices can trigger an allergic reaction that causes the mouth to tingle or itch. In some people, pollen-food allergy syndrome — sometimes called oral allergy syndrome — can cause swelling of the throat or even anaphylaxis. This is an example of cross-reactivity. Proteins in fruits and vegetables cause the reaction because they’re similar to those allergy-causing proteins found in certain pollens. For example, if you’re allergic to ragweed, you may also react to melons; if you’re allergic to birch pollen, you may also react to apples. Cooking fruits and vegetables can help you avoid this reaction. Most cooked fruits and vegetables generally don’t cause cross-reactive oral allergy symptoms.

When to see a doctor
See a doctor or allergist if you have food allergy symptoms shortly after eating. If possible, see your doctor when the allergic reaction is occurring. This will help your doctor make a diagnosis.

Seek emergency treatment if you develop any signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as:

■Constriction of airways that makes it difficult to breathe
■Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
■Rapid pulse
■Dizziness or lightheadedness

What does an allergy mean?

An allergy refers to an exaggerated reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in non- allergic people. Allergic people’s bodies recognize the foreign substance and one part of the immune system is turned on. Allergy-producing substances are called “allergens.” Examples of allergens include pollens, dust mite, molds, danders, and foods. To understand the language of allergy it is important to remember that allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people.

When an allergen comes in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in persons who are allergic to it. When you inappropriately react to allergens that are normally harmless to other people, you are having an allergic reaction and can be referred to as allergic or atopic. Therefore, people who are prone to allergies are said to be allergic or “atopic.”

Austrian pediatrician Clemens Pirquet (1874-1929) first used the term allergy. He referred to both immunity that was beneficial and to the harmful hypersensitivity as “allergy.” The word allergy is derived from the Greek words “allos,” meaning different or changed and “ergos,” meaning work or action. Allergy roughly refers to an “altered reaction.” The word allergy was first used in 1905 to describe the adverse reactions of children who were given repeated shots of horse serum to fight infection. The following year, the term allergy was proposed to explain this unexpected “changed reactivity.”

Allergy Fact
•It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions.
•The cost of allergies in the United States is more than $10 billion dollars yearly.
•Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) affects about 35 million Americans, 6 million of whom are children.
•Asthma affects 15 million Americans, 5 million of whom are children.
•The number of cases of asthma has doubled over the last 20 years.

Symptoms of Allergies

The signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis are:

sneezing, often accompanied by a runny or clogged nose

coughing and postnasal drip

itching eyes, nose and throat

allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses)

the “allergic salute” (in a child, persistent upward rubbing of the nose that causes a crease mark on the nose)

watery eyes

conjunctivitis (an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids, causing red-rimmed, swollen eyes and crusting of the eyelids)

The signs and symptoms of asthma are:

a feeling of tightness in the chest

breathlessness

coughing

difficulty inhaling and exhaling

noisy breathing (“wheezing”)

The signs and symptoms of eczema, contact dermatitis and urticaria are:

red, itchy skin

inflamed skin

welts (in hives)

WARNING: If a person is experiencing more severe symptoms than what is listed above, they may be in anaphylactic shock.

Anaphylactic shock is a medical emergency which is an acute systemic (affecting the whole body) allergic reaction. It occurs after exposure to an antigen (allergen) to which a person was previously sensitized.

The signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock include the general symptoms of a common allergic reaction, PLUS:

rapidly worsening symptoms (or previously severe reactions to this allergen)

swelling of tissues such as lips or joints

wheezing, noisy breathing or shortness of breath

rash or redness of the skin

loss of consciousness

anxiety

itching of the skin

headache

nausea and vomiting

abdominal cramps

diarrhea

low blood pressure

convulsions

itching of the mouth and throat

hoarseness, change of voice

chest pain and tightness

a feeling of warmth and flushing

cramping of the uterus

the feeling of having to urinate

sweating

confusion

Allergens more commonly associated with anaphylactic shock are: certain insect venoms; drugs such as penicillin; and foods like fish, peanuts, nuts, eggs and seeds.

Call 911 if any of these symptoms occur with an allergic reaction. If not treated promptly and properly, anaphylaxis can result in death. Fortunately, the tendency to have such serious reactions is rare.

Treatment of anaphylactic shock is first to inject adrenaline (epinephrine) to constrict the small blood vessels, raise the blood pressure and dilate the airway. This may be followed by injection of antihistamines and/or steroids, plus the use of life-support systems.

What You Need to Know Allergies

Almost everyone has allergies but of course no one wants them. Allergies run the gamut from minor annoyances to life threatening emergencies. But allergies all have one thing in common – they are the body’s immune system overreacting to allergens – things that aren’t a problem to most people most of the time.

Our immune system detects irritants, toxins and potentially infectious agents and works to protect us from them. With allergies, something the body has been exposed to triggers an inflammatory response. What happens within the body when sensitivity to an allergen has developed is quite complex. The bone marrow releases eosinophils, and many other cell types from the immune system are thrown into overdrive, creating an inflammatory cascade. The treatment of allergies is geared toward the management of symptoms by mediating the inflammatory response triggered by exposure to an allergen. Scientific breakthroughs concerning the immune system and the inflammatory response have helped bring to market many new drugs, bringing relief to millions of people around the world.

Once the body has developed sensitivity to an allergen, an allergic response is initiated every time you’re exposed to it again. Airborne allergens like pollen trigger responses such as hay fever or seasonal allergies. Mold, dust and pet dander can trigger asthma attacks. Irritants like poison ivy or chemicals can trigger skin allergies. Many people, especially kids, have food allergies which can create such a dangerous reaction – anaphylactic shock – a true medical emergency. Insect stings are another potentially life threatening allergy.

The prevention of symptoms is the key to allergy control, and that means controlling the environment through vigilance against whatever allergens trigger an allergic response for you. The Allergies Learning Center offers multimedia information – video, expert articles, quizzes and much more to help you understand and manage allergies. Scientific breakthroughs concerning the immune system and the inflammatory response have helped bring to market many new drugs, bringing relief to millions of people around the world