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
- Pictures of Common Allergy Triggers - Slideshow

- Pictures of Pets and Allergies - Slideshow

- Pictures of Home Allegy - Slideshow

- Viewer Comments: Food Allergy - Describe Your Experience
Self-Care at Home
For localized hives or other mild skin reactions
- Take cool showers or apply cool compresses.
- Wear light clothing that doesn't irritate your skin.
- Take it easy. Keep your activity level low.
- To relieve the itching, apply calamine lotion or take over-the-counter antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine maleate (Chlor-Trimeton).
- Try to stay calm.
- If you can identify the cause of the reaction, prevent further exposure.
- Take an antihistamine (1-2 tablets or capsules of diphenhydramine [Benadryl]) if you can swallow without difficulty.
- If you are wheezing or having difficulty breathing, use an inhaled bronchodilator such as albuterol (Proventil) or epinephrine (Primatene Mist) if one is available. These inhaled medications dilate the airway.
- If you are feeling light-headed or faint, lie down and raise your legs higher than your head to help blood flow to your brain.
- If you have been given an epinephrine kit, inject yourself as you have been instructed. The kit provides a premeasured dose of epinephrine, a prescription drug that rapidly reverses the most serious symptoms (see Follow-up).
- Bystanders should administer CPR to a person who becomes unconscious and stops breathing or does not have a pulse.
- If at all possible, you or your companion should be prepared to tell medical personnel what medications you have taken that day, what you usually take, and your allergy history.
Next: Medical Treatment »
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Food Allergy - Describe Your Experience
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Food Allergy »
Adverse food reactions can be broadly classified into 2 categories.
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