Allergies can manifest with various signs and symptoms, but some of the most common are sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakes something harmless as being dangerous, creating an unnecessary reaction.
The substance that causes the reaction is termed an allergen. Common allergens include latex, pollen, pet dander, mold, dust mites, insect venom, and certain foods, plants, and medications. Here’s what you need to know, including when it’s best to see a healthcare provider.
General Signs
The most difficult part with allergic reaction is that one may present many signs and symptoms. Common features among all of them include:
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
Severe allergic reactions include hives and rashes accompanied by shortness of breath. Some cases of serious allergic reactions become anaphylaxis, an emergency medical situation.
Symptoms by Allergen Type
Some symptoms of allergies are indicative of the kind of allergen causing the reaction. The variety of allergens includes specific types of foods to medicines.
Food Allergy
Food allergies affect children the most, but they can also happen to adults. Knowing the symptoms of a food allergy can save you from more serious consequences that might result in an allergic reaction.
Allergies to specific foods tend to be hereditary. Younger siblings are more likely to have a peanut allergy, for instance, if the oldest child has a peanut allergy. You still cannot predict whether you or your child will have an allergy.
- Cow’s milk and other dairy products
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Shellfish (most often, crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster, and crab, and less frequently, mollusks including scallops, oysters, clams, and mussels)
- Soy
- Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts)
- Wheat
- Allergic reactions can be involved with the intestines, cardiovascular system, or even lungs, skin, etc. Symptoms are common, but might include:
- Swollen tongue
- Recurrent cough
- Hives (urticaria), or a rash characterized by itchy bumps called wheels
- Abdominal cramps
- Vomiting
- Wheezing, or a whistling sound when breathing
These are not all the symptoms that can occur. Reactions can occur within several hours of ingestion, and many times, they occur within minutes. Everyone’s reaction to a food allergy is different. It’s important to see an allergist (who specializes in allergic conditions) for proper diagnosis and treatment if you think you or your child may have a food allergy.
Environmental Allergy
Environmental allergies develop due to allergens from the surrounding environment that are a common cause of discomfort. Some examples of environmental allergies include:
Animal dander: It is essentially dead skin particles in fur or feathers. Any pet in the house, be it a cat or a dog, is likely to contain dander. Bathing the pet, lowering contact, and washing hands after stroking the animal helps in preventing the symptoms.
Cockroaches: These insects prefer damp, dark places with food waste. The main allergen that can cause allergies is cockroach feces. Keeping an indoor space free of excess moisture and uncovered food can reduce cockroach infestations, along with hiring an exterminator if needed.
Dust mites: These are tiny bugs that live in dust. The excreta of dust mites contain a type of digestive protein called peptidase 1, which is the primary allergen. Dust mites can be transported through indoor air and cause an allergy.
Mold: Not all mold causes an allergy. A few molds are allergic in some people who live in a damp indoor place such as in basements, bathrooms, or windows. Among them are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium.
You will likely experience common allergy symptoms if you have an allergy to one of these. Some may also have other symptoms, including:
- Itchiness in the nose, mouth, or throat
- Mucus in the throat, especially in mold allergies
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Rash
- Watery or burning eyes
Latex Allergy
Latex is a flexible material made from the sap of rubber trees known as Hevea brasiliensis. Some gloves, bandages, and other items may be made from latex. Certain proteins in natural rubber can trigger a latex allergy.
An allergic reaction can occur when latex comes into direct contact with your skin, is inhaled from latex particles in the air, or comes into contact with mucus membranes, such as your mouth or eyes. Latex allergy sufferers may experience an immediate reaction or a delayed skin reaction
.
- Itching or swelling of your mouth or tongue after a dental exam involving latex gloves
- Itchy or swollen skin following contact with a latex bandage, gloves, condom, or vaginal diaphragm
- Red, swollen lips after blowing up a balloon
In extreme cases of an allergic reaction to latex, further symptoms can include:
Insect Allergy
An insect allergy may manifest a wide variety of symptoms. Symptoms vary from a slight reaction to the insect’s venom, such as stings from wasps, bees, hornets, or ants, to more serious conditions such as a full-blown anaphylactic shock, as mentioned earlier.
Common allergenic insects causing the allergy include bee and wasp stings, hornets, and fire ants. The bites from the mosquitoes, bed bugs, or fleas induce other allergies. Insect stings or bites may lead to common symptoms of pain, stinging, redness, and mild swelling near the site affected.
Severe reactions, in case of more extreme allergy to stings or bites, might have such symptoms as problems with breathing, swelling, and nausea. Symptoms following a serious reaction tend to be generally worse after a sting and rarely follow a bite
Drug Allergy
Many drugs used in the treatment of bacterial and certain fungal infections, such as antibiotics, are often reported with drug allergies. Approximately 2% of drug allergies reported at hospitals are allergic reactions. Some patients may experience adverse effects from a drug or worsening of a condition from an infection they already have.
Penicillin, a type of antibiotic, is one of the most widely reported drug allergies, with up to 10% of people claiming they’re allergic. Less than 1% of the general population actually turns out to be allergic when tested.
Medication allergies can range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Some symptoms may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Hives
- Itching
- Swollen eyes or lips
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting
Life-Threatening Symptoms
Allergies can be extremely dangerous and, in some cases, life-threatening. Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction affecting multiple organs in your body.
Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Hives
- Nausea
- Swelling of the face, tongue, and throat
- Wheezing
Seek emergency help immediately and dial 911 for anaphylaxis, although you have used epinephrine. Treatment for anaphylaxis should occur in a timely manner with an epinephrine injection, or a hormone that’s otherwise known as adrenaline. This will drastically impede or halt an allergic reaction and can be life-saving.
When to Seek a Medical Provider
You might want to try to self-diagnose your allergy symptoms, but you should seek an allergist if you are ever concerned. Allergists know the best ways to diagnose and treat allergies and can give you much better insight into the cause of your symptoms.
Ask a doctor if your allergy isn’t responding to treatment or worsens over time. Reach out to an allergist when the symptoms seem mysterious or don’t go away in a week to get an assessment and prescription plan.
Discuss epinephrine auto-injectors with a healthcare provider for a history of allergies. Allergens more commonly causing anaphylaxis include peanuts, tree nuts, fish, crustacean shellfish (such as shrimp, lobster, or crab), fish, insect stings, and latex.
You can still be at a risk of developing anaphylaxis even when you have experienced mild allergic reactions. High risk of developing anaphylaxis is, however, attributed to individuals with a history of severe allergic reactions to a known allergen. An allergist can demonstrate to you how to use an epinephrine auto-injector in the event of an emergency.
