Food Allergy: For someone with a food allergy, eating or swallowing even a tiny amount of a particular food can cause symptoms such as skin rash, nausea, vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea.
The best way to prevent a food allergy is to avoid the foods one is allergic to.
Must Read Articles:
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Allergic Reaction
An allergic reaction is an overreaction to a harmless substance. Symptoms and signs of an allergic reaction include hives, rashes, swelling, itching, wheezing, nausea, and even anaphylactic shock in severe reactions. Treatment involves avoiding triggers, taking oral antihistamines, applying anti-inflammatory steroid creams, and using an EpiPen. -
Hives and Angioedema
Hives are a sudden allergic skin reaction. Hives are raised reddish bumps that cause severe itching. Angioedema is similar to hives but the welts are larger and involve a deeper layer in the skin. Allergies, insect stings and bites, stress, exercise, and infections are common causes of hives and angioedema. In mild cases, no treatment is needed. Severe reactions should be treated by a health care professional. -
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a condition in which milk and milk products (lactose products) are not digestible. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of lactase in the intestinal wall. Lactose intolerance may appear gradually after childhood. However, the condition can be present at birth. Common symptoms of lactose intolerance include: gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. The treatment for lactose intolerance are dietary changes to exclude products that contain lactase. -
Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure (hypotension) may be caused by heart conditions, intravascular fluid complications (dehydration, pneumonia, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding), medications, endocrine conditions, allergic reactions, orthostatic hypotension, diabetes, and micturition syncope. Low blood pressure may or may not have symptoms depending upon the cause. Treatment also depends upon the causes of low blood pressure. -
Rash
A rash is a visible skin outbreak. Examples of noninfectious rashes include eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, hives, and allergic dermatitis. Types of infectious rashes include ringworm, impetigo, scabies, herpes, chickenpox, and shingles. Rashes may be caused by fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Treatment depends upon the type of rash. -
Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylactic Shock)
The severe reaction of anaphylaxis is an immune allergic response that is life-threatening. The symptoms are breathing problems, shock, or death. Reactions may result from an insect sting or certain foods to which the body has been "sensitized" and has developed a powerful antigen for. Anaphylaxis occurs when the imune system overreacts to the antigen.
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Food Allergy Topic Guide - Visuals
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Food Allergy Topic Guide - Medications and Vitamins
Medications:
Epinephrine InjectionEpinephrine is a chemical that narrows blood vessels and opens airways in the lungs. These effects can reverse severe low blood pressure, wheezing, severe s...learn more »
DiphenhydramineDiphenhydramine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching,...learn more »
Food Allergy Topic Guide – Related Topics
Related Topics:
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, is recommended for severe allergy sufferers. Typically, immunotherapy consists of a three- to five-year course of allergy shots...learn more »
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, parasites, intestinal diseases or conditions, reactions to medications, and food intolerance or allergi...learn more »
Asthma
Asthma is a disease that affects the breathing passages of the lungs (bronchioles). Asthma may be caused by genes and environmental factors. Asthma causes wheez...learn more »
Shock
Medical shock occurs from many illnesses, conditions, or trauma. Types of shock include septic, hypovolemic, hemorrhagic, cardiogenic, neurogenic, hypoglycemic,...learn more »
Steroids
Steroid abuse is common in athletes in professional sports. Androgenic/anabolic steroids regulate the manufacture of testosterone in the ovaries and testicles. ...learn more »
Seizures in Children
A seizure occurs when the brain functions abnormally, and can affect different parts of the brain and body. The types of seizures which most often occur in chil...learn more »
Choking
Choking is a blockage of the upper airway by food or other objects, preventing a person from breathing effectively. Choking can cause a simple coughing fit or c...learn more »
Vomiting and Nausea
Vomiting and nausea are common complaints that accompany many conditions and diseases. A few common causes of vomiting and nausea include food poisoning, viruse...learn more »
Eczema
Eczema is a term frequently used to describe any sort of dermatitis. Causes include genetic inheritance. Common triggers of atopic dermatitis include soaps, det...learn more »
Understanding Allergy and Hay Fever Medications
There are many types of medications available to combat the symptoms of allergies and hay fever. The types of medications include antihistamines (Claritin, Zyrt...learn more »
Heart Rhythm Disorders
Arrhythmias or heart rhythm disorders are conditions that causes changes in the normal heartbeat. There are numerous types of arrhythmias, for example, ...
learn more »
Asthma FAQs
Asthma is a disease marked by inflammation of the airways that cause difficulty breathing. Ther are millions who suffer from this chronic disease, and this arti...learn more »