Signs and SymptomsAllergyor food sensitivity
Food allergy symptoms can vary from mild to severe. While reactions differ from person to person, they generally start within two hours of eating. The signs and symptomsof food allergiestypically affect the skin, stomach, eyes, or the entire body. In some cases, life-threatening anaphylaxis may also occur.
As mentioned before in the health sectionof SelMagzfood allergies are immune system reactions that occur after eating specific foods. Even tiny amounts oftriggering foodscan cause symptoms such as digestive issues,hivesand swelling of the airways.
Food allergies affect 6 to 8 percent of children under three years old and 3 percent of adults. Though there is no cure, some children may outgrow their allergies as they get older. It’s easy to confuse food allergies with a common reaction known as food intolerance.
Food Allergy Symptoms
For some people, a food allergy reaction may be uncomfortable but not severe. For others, it can be frightening and even life-threatening. Food allergy symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after eating the triggering food.
The most common food allergy symptoms include:
- Burning or itching of the mouth
- Itching, hives, or eczema
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other parts of the body
- Wheezing,nasal congestionor difficulty breathing
- Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- Dizziness,lightheadednessor fainting
Instead of assuming it’s not important, report these experiences to your doctor.
It’s crucial to know how to manage reactions when they occur and how to avoid them.
Unlike food allergies, food sensitivity reactions, such as those related tolactose intoleranceorceliac diseasemay be delayed for up to 24 hours.
Skin Reactions
Food allergies can lead to skin issues, which include:
Hives:
Red bumps that suddenly appear on the skin and are usually itchy.
Swelling:
Swollen tissue that develops, especially around the face and lips.
Consult your doctor for treatments for these irritants. Doctors often recommend treating skin reactions withoral antihistaminesor topical medications like steroid creams, ointments, or oatmeal baths. It’s also important to observe hives and note that they last only a short time, which can help your doctor determine the cause.
If your symptoms are primarily digestive, seek a gastroenterologist for help diagnosing the issue and finding a solution.
Digestive Problems
Food allergies may result in stomach and intestinal discomfort.
These issues include:
- Stomach upset
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea more than three times a day
Chronic pain can be a sign of a food allergy, which may indicate other digestive issues. Lactose intolerance, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and ulcers are other conditions that can have similar symptoms. While antihistamines can help with allergies, they will not alleviate the symptoms of these conditions.
Breathing Issues
Food allergies may affect the lungs, mouth, throat, or anything that can impact your ability to breathe. If you have asthma and food allergies, you are at higher risk for a severe allergic reaction that includes breathing difficulties.
Food allergies affecting the airways are very serious and require immediate attention.
Some allergy symptoms affecting the respiratory system include:
- Wheezing
- Loud sounds when trying to breathe
- Coughing
- Allergic rhinitis (runny nose)
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, eyes, or face
- Difficulty swallowing
Discuss with your doctor how to manage mild swelling or inflammation of your lips or tongue. For some individuals, using oral antihistamines may be a treatment course.
However, these symptoms can indicate anaphylaxis, which requires emergency treatment.
Eye Reactions
Allergic reactions in the eyes are also common and include symptoms like:
- Redness
- Itching
- Watery eyes
- Swelling
Talk to your doctor about how to treat your tearing anditchy eyes. For many people, using oral antihistamines helps relieve symptoms, although eye drops may also be needed.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a type of shock caused by an allergic reaction. This reaction can occur within minutes after exposure to an allergen, though for some, it may take several hours to manifest. Given the severity of this reaction, it’s important not to ignore the first signs.
This reaction may include some or all of the symptoms listed above (especially difficulty breathing), along with other reactions:
Dizziness, lightheadedness:
This reaction is often due tolow blood pressure.Losing consciousness:
This reaction also comes with low blood pressure and slowed
heart rate.Pale skinIf you or someone around you experiences any of the above symptoms, call emergency services immediately; an emergency responder will guide you. Don’t wait to see if symptoms improve.
Anaphylaxis can progress rapidly if not immediately treated with emergency epinephrine, potentially leading to death within 30 minutes of symptom onset. About 10 to 20 percent of the time, someone experiencing such a severe allergic reaction may even need a second dose of epinephrine for relief.
Individuals diagnosed with an anaphylactic allergy must always carry an injector.
In adults, most food allergies are associated with specific proteins, such as:
Lobster, shrimp
Peanuts
- Nuts like walnuts
- Fish
- In children, food allergies are commonly triggered by these proteins:
- Almonds
Peanuts
- NutsEggs
- Cow’s milk
- Wheat
- Soy
- Common conditions that may cause symptoms related to food allergies include:
- Lack of an enzyme for complete digestion of a food:
You may not have enough of the necessary enzymes to digest certain foods. For example, insufficient lactase can reduce your ability to digest lactose (the main sugar in dairy products). Lactose intolerance can lead to bloating, cramping,
diarrhea
and excess gas.Food poisoning:Sometimes food poisoning can mimic an allergic reaction. Bacteria in spoiled tuna and other fish can produce a specific toxin that leads to adverse reactions.
Sensitivity to food additives:Some people react with digestive symptoms and other signs after consuming certain food additives; for example, sulfites used to preserve dried fruits and canned foods can cause asthma attacks in sensitive individuals.
Histamine toxicity:
Certain fish, such as tuna or mackerel, that are not properly stored and that contain high levels of bacteria may have elevated histamine levels, triggering symptoms similar to food allergies. Instead of an allergic reaction, this condition is referred to as histamine toxicity or scombroid poisoning.
Celiac disease:
While celiac disease is sometimes classified as a gluten allergy, it does not lead to anaphylaxis. Similar to food allergies, it involves an immune response but is a more complex reaction than simple food allergies.
This chronic digestive condition occurs from consuming gluten, a protein found in bread, pasta, pastries, and many foods containing wheat, barley, and rye.
If you have celiac disease and eat foods with gluten, an immune reaction occurs in your body that damages the lining of the small intestine, leading to an inability to absorb certain nutrients.
Family history:
If asthma, eczema, hives, or food allergies like
hay fever
are common in your family, you may be at risk for food allergies.
Other allergies:If you currently have an allergy to one food, you may be at increased risk for sensitivity to another. Similarly, if you have other types of allergic reactions, such as hay feveror eczema, your risk of having another food allergy increases.
Age:
Food allergies are more common in children, especially toddlers and infants. As they grow older, their digestive system matures, and their bodies are less likely to react to food allergens. Fortunately, children typically outgrow allergies to milk, soy, wheat, and eggs. However, severe allergies, especially to nuts andshrimpare likely to be lifelong.
Asthma:
Asthma and food allergies often occur together. When they do, symptoms may be more severe.Factors that may increase the likelihood of developing an anaphylactic reaction includea history of asthma, being a teenager or young adult
delaying treatment with epinephrine for allergy symptoms
having hives or other skin symptoms
Complications:
- Complications related to food allergies can include:
- Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Preventing Food Allergies
When food allergies progress, the best way to prevent allergic reactions is to know and avoid the foods that trigger symptoms. For some, this is an easy task, while for others, it can be a significant challenge. Additionally, some trigger foods may be completely hidden. This is particularly true in restaurants and other social settings.
- If you know you have a food allergy, follow these steps:
- Be aware of everything you eat and drink, and carefully read food labels.
If you are currently having a severe reaction, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that informs others that you have a food allergy and that they should call for emergency help.
Discuss with your doctor about getting an emergency epinephrine prescription. You may need to carry epinephrine with you and inject it into yourself if you experience a severe allergic reaction.
Be cautious in restaurants. Make sure that the waiter or chef is aware to absolutely not serve you any food you are allergic to, and be very certain that the dish you order contains none of that ingredient.
- Prepare food, snacks, and treats for yourself before leaving home. If necessary, pack a container for yourself when traveling or going out.
- Special Considerations for Children:
- It’s important to know that children with food allergies may describe their symptoms differently than adults. They may simply lack the appropriate words to express how they feel.
- For example, children may become very fussy or irritable,
- experience stomach pain
or diarrhea but may be unable to explain what is happening.
In such cases, do not wait for symptoms to go away or for a specific reaction to occur. If your child’s face, mouth, or tongue swells or if they have trouble breathing, call emergency services immediately.
If you are concerned that your child may have food allergies or be at risk for food allergies, discuss with their doctor about seeing an allergy specialist.Itchy HandsFood Allergies in Children
Shortness of Breath
Food Allergies and Shortness of Breath
