Symptoms
All information contained here has been take directly from the NHS website, a link will also be provided at the bottom.
The symptoms of a food allergy almost always develop a few seconds or minutes after eating the food.
Some people may develop a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), which can be life threatening.
The most common type of allergic reaction to food is known as an IgE-mediated food allergy.
Symptoms include:
Initial symptoms of anaphylaxis are often the same as those listed above and can lead to:
Non-IgE-mediated food allergyAnother type of allergic reaction is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy. The symptoms of this type of allergy can take much longer to develop – sometimes up to several days.
Some symptoms of a non IgE-mediated food allergy may be what you would expect to see in an allergic reaction, such as:
This can happen to children who have a milk allergy.
Exercise-induced food allergyIn some cases, a food allergy can be triggered after eating a certain food and then exercising. This can lead to anaphylaxis in severe cases, sometimes known as food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.
Drinking alcohol or taking an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen may also trigger an allergy in people with this syndrome.
Click here to view on the NHS website.
Some people may develop a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), which can be life threatening.
The most common type of allergic reaction to food is known as an IgE-mediated food allergy.
Symptoms include:
- tingling or itching in the mouth
- a raised, itchy red rash (urticarial) – in some cases, the skin can turn red and itchy, but without a raised rash
- swelling of the face, mouth (angioedema), throat or other areas of the body
- difficulty swallowing
- wheezing or shortness of breath
- feeling dizzy and lightheaded
- feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
- abdominal pain or diarrhoea
- hay fever-like symptoms, such as sneezing or itchy eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
Initial symptoms of anaphylaxis are often the same as those listed above and can lead to:
- increased breathing difficulties – such as wheezing and a cough
- a sudden and intense feeling of anxiety and fear
- a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- a sharp and sudden drop in your blood pressure, which can make you feel lightheaded and confused
- unconsciousness
Non-IgE-mediated food allergyAnother type of allergic reaction is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy. The symptoms of this type of allergy can take much longer to develop – sometimes up to several days.
Some symptoms of a non IgE-mediated food allergy may be what you would expect to see in an allergic reaction, such as:
- redness and itchiness of the skin – although not a raised, itchy red rash (urticarial)
- the skin becomes itchy, red, dry and cracked (atopic eczema)
- heartburn and indigestion caused by stomach acid leaking up out of the stomach (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)
- stools (faeces) becoming much more frequent or loose – though not necessarily diarrhoea
- blood and mucus in the stools
- in babies – excessive and inconsolable crying, even though the baby is well fed and doesn't need a nappy change (colic)
- constipation
- redness around the anus, rectum and genitals
- unusually pale skin
- failure to grow at the expected rate
This can happen to children who have a milk allergy.
Exercise-induced food allergyIn some cases, a food allergy can be triggered after eating a certain food and then exercising. This can lead to anaphylaxis in severe cases, sometimes known as food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.
Drinking alcohol or taking an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen may also trigger an allergy in people with this syndrome.
Click here to view on the NHS website.