Food Allergy (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Food Allergy Overview
- Food Allergy Causes
- Food Allergy Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Food Allergy Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Other Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Food Allergy - Describe Your Experience
Food Allergy Symptoms
A person with a food allergy can have symptoms beginning as soon as 2 minutes after eating the food, but reactions may take 1-2 hours to appear. Occasionally, symptoms abate quickly, only to recur in 3-4 hours.
- The most common symptoms include the following:
- Other symptoms may include the following:
- Itching and watering in the eyes
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Symptoms of a more severe reaction could include the following:
- A severe allergic reaction can be life threatening. This severe reaction is referred to as anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock.
- The dizziness, light-headedness, and loss of consciousness are due to dangerously low blood pressure, called "shock."
- An anaphylactic reaction can begin suddenly, or it may develop gradually with itchiness and swelling of the skin and throat and then progress to a severe reaction over a few hours.
- Most people get such a reaction immediately after eating the food, but in a few unusual cases the reaction occurs only after exercising following the ingestion of the food.
- Severe reactions are most often seen with allergies to nuts, fish, and shellfish, although allergy to any food can cause anaphylaxis.
- People with asthma, childhood allergies, eczema, or prior severe food allergies are especially at risk for having an anaphylactic reaction.
- MSG reaction can be mistaken for an allergic reaction.
- Symptoms of MSG reaction include the following:
- A few people experience seizures, irregular heartbeats, and anaphylaxis after the use of MSG.
- Contrary to popular beliefs, MSG has no relation to Alzheimer disease, Huntington chorea, or other chronic illnesses.
- Symptoms of MSG reaction include the following:
Next: When to Seek Medical Care »
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Food Allergy »
Adverse food reactions can be broadly classified into 2 categories.
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