Food allergies are very common. Research suggests that nearly 7% of U.S. adults have a food allergy and over 5% of children have a food allergy. Symptoms can be mild and include hives, rash, or itching around the mouth and throat. Food allergies can also cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that requires immediate treatment.
Recognizing food allergy symptoms and knowing how to manage them can reduce the risk of complications.
What Is a Food Allergy?
Allergies are an immune response to substances that aren’t typically harmful to people. Foods, pollen, pet dander, and mold are all common causes of allergies.
When someone is exposed to an allergen, their body launches an immune response to fight the substance. This response can cause physical reactions such as itching, swelling, or hives, which are not contagious but can spread. Sometimes, food allergy symptoms are similar to cold symptoms, such as a runny nose and coughing.
Severe allergies can cause swelling that closes airways, making it difficult to breathe. This is a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis and should be considered a medical emergency.
Food allergies are not the same as food sensitivity or food intolerance. Food intolerance occurs when the body has difficulty digesting certain foods, such as gluten and lactose. Food intolerance symptoms can include GI issues such as cramps, diarrhea, or vomiting. The symptoms are unpleasant, but not dangerous. ?
Common Food Allergens
The most common food allergies are caused by 9 main types of foods. These foods are noted on food labels and menus so people can avoid them.
- Peanuts: Peanut allergy symptoms can include hives, breathing difficulties, and anaphylaxis.
- Tree nuts: Tree nuts can cause severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, hives, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.
- Cow’s milk: Cow’s milk allergies are more common in children. They can cause eczema flares, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Eggs: Egg allergies can cause hives, swelling, wheezing, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Shellfish: Shellfish allergies can lead to severe reactions, including hives, throat swelling, and anaphylaxis.
- Fish: Fish allergies can cause mild hives and stomach pain or more severe reactions, including anaphylaxis.
- Wheat: Wheat allergies can lead to hives, eczema, nausea, vomiting, wheezing, or anaphylaxis. This should not be mistaken for gluten intolerance, which only causes gastrointestinal distress.
- Soy: Soy allergies can cause gastrointestinal distress, hives, and respiratory issues.
- Sesame: Sesame can lead to severe anaphylactic reactions similar to peanut allergies.
Mild Food Allergy Symptoms
Mild food allergy symptoms typically occur shortly after eating the food. They may appear within minutes or up to 2 hours after eating. Swelling, itching, and discomfort in the mouth and throat are common responses to consuming allergenic foods.
Children may describe allergy symptoms as a “funny feeling” in their mouth or say they just don’t feel right. Your child might also develop a rash or hives and complain of itching.
Skin reactions:
- Hives
- Itching
- Swelling of the lips/face/tongue
- Eczema
- Rash
Gastrointestinal symptoms:
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Respiratory symptoms:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Mild coughing
If you or your child experiences mild food allergy symptoms, home treatment with antihistamines like Benadryl can slow or stop the reaction. Topical steroid creams can help with skin reactions. Prescription allergy remedies like epinephrine rapid injectors should be used according to directions from a health care provider.
You should follow up with a health care provider after an allergic reaction to food, especially if it’s a new reaction. Future reactions may be more severe. It’s important to understand the risks and have the right over-the-counter and prescription medications on hand in case of future incidents.
Contact your primary care provider or visit an urgent care facility like Next Level Urgent Care for help treating mild food allergy symptoms like rashes, hives, or acute exacerbations of allergy symptoms.
Avoiding known allergens is the best way to prevent future reactions. Reading food labels and asking about ingredients will help you identify possible issues before eating a problem food.
Severe Food Allergy Symptoms (Anaphylaxis)
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis often affects multiple body systems simultaneously, causing a swift and dangerous escalation of symptoms, including:
- Difficulty breathing due to throat swelling
- Severe drop in blood pressure
- Rapid pulse
- Dizziness or loss of consciousness
- Feeling of “impending doom”
- Severe gastrointestinal distress
If you even suspect anaphylaxis, you should seek emergency medical attention. Visit an emergency room, not an urgent care facility, since anaphylaxis is life-threatening and requires hospital care.
If you have an epinephrine auto-injector, use it at the first signs of anaphylaxis. Most injectors have an orange end and a blue end. The blue end should be pointing up (blue to the sky, orange to the thigh). Remove the safety cap and push the orange end firmly into the outer thigh until it clicks.
You may have a second wave of symptoms later. This is called a biphasic reaction. Your health care provider can tell you what to look for, and you may need to stay in a hospital or clinic for observation. ?
How To Prevent Mild and Severe Food Allergic Reactions?
If you have an allergic response to food, you should see an allergy specialist. They can test you and find out all possible allergy triggers. There is no cure for food allergies, but an allergist can prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector and give you common sense steps to avoid reactions:
- Always carry emergency epinephrine.
- Read food labels carefully.
- Communicate your allergies clearly to anyone who might serve you food, such as food service staff, friends and family, and coworkers. Parents should communicate with school personnel regarding children with food allergies.
- Create an allergy action plan.
- Avoid cross-contamination at home.
- Educate caregivers and family members (including teachers).
Protect Yourself and Your Family
Learning the signs of food allergies can help you recognize food allergy symptoms and administer treatment quickly. Proper medical evaluation after the first incident can help you understand your specific allergies and risks.
You can manage mild reactions with antihistamines and monitoring. Treat severe reactions with an epinephrine auto-injector or call 911 for emergency care.?
People with known allergies should always carry epinephrine and have an action plan. Families should educate children, caregivers, and schools about food allergies so they can respond appropriately. Being prepared and informed can prevent serious complications from food allergies.
If you or your child is sick or experiencing symptoms of a food allergy reaction, the team at Next Level Urgent Care can help. Our health care providers can offer food allergy treatment for non-emergency symptoms and help you get the follow-up care you need.
With locations throughout the San Antonio, Houston, and Austin areas, you can get the care you need in a convenient location. Next Level Urgent Care clinics are open 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Walk in or use the app to sign in online and skip the wait.
