People with allergies, whether it’s to food, stinging insects, or medications, can be at risk of severe symptoms. Not all people will have all symptoms, and they will vary based on what you’re allergic to. Additionally, each exposure could bring on different symptoms.

The Range of Symptoms
-Tingling in the mouth
-Swelling of the tongue and throat / feeling of throat tightness
-Itchy skin, hives or skin redness
-Abdominal cramps
-Vomiting or diarrhea
-Breathing difficulty, wheezing
-Faintness due to a sudden drop in blood pressure

Symptoms reviewed by Dr. Susan Waserman

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is the severe form of allergic reaction. It involves one or more of the body’s symptoms; for example, the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, the skin and the cardiovascular system. A person experiencing anaphylaxis often has difficulty breathing, and the person could lose consciousness. Anaphylaxis puts a person at risk of death.

Anaphylactic reactions can come on quickly, and it’s impossible to know when a reaction will become severe. It’s important that people with food allergies are prepared for a reaction by always carrying an epinephrine auto-injector (either EpiPen or Twinject).

Experts recommend using epinephrine early if a person known to be at risk of anaphylaxis begins to show signs of allergy symptoms – don’t wait until the symptoms worsen, as it may become to difficult put a halt to the reaction once it’s in progress.