Food Allergy Symptoms

Food allergy is an elicitation of a series of immune response in the human body to one or more products in food, mostly proteins.

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Allergic reactions to food mostly involve the release of histamines, inflammatory chemicals most often in the skin, the stomach, the intestines, the and the airways or the respiratory symptoms.

Either food allergy responses may appear early, within minutes to several hours after a meal, or delayed, symptoms appear after 12 to 72 hours after a meal. The most common and major allergic response to a food product in general is as follows:

1.    Hives :

Hives are raised, itchy red swollen regions on the skin. Also known as, urticaria occurs when histamines are released into the blood stream resulting in itching and swelling, especially around the eyes and lips (angioedema). This can also occur in hands, feet and throat. Hives are characterized by an initial itch, followed by swelling with or without redness, and can change shape, disappear and reappear and can spread to larger areas. Foodstuff involved in eliciting hives is strawberries, tomatoes, chocolate, eggs, shellfish, mangoes, pork and nuts.

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2.     Allergic rhinitis :

Allergic rhinitis or hay fever is a common symptom of dairy allergy resulting in chronic congestion affecting the eyes and nose. This is often followed by eczema and asthma. Some of the immediate responses includes itchy nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin or any area, problems with sense of smell, runny nose, sneezing and tearful eyes. Those symptoms that develop later includes stuffy nose (nasal congestion), coughing, clogged ears and decreased sense of smell, sore throat, dark circles under the eyes, puffiness under the eyes, fatigue and irritability, memory loss and headache. Milk, wheat, nuts, chocolates, colas and sulphites are the common food substances involved in instigating allergic rhinitis.

image by The Blot

3.    Eczema:

Also known as, atopic dermatitis is a very painful, itchy, scaly rash appearing near the face, elbows and knees. This is aggravated by sweat, touch of clothe and dryness of skin. This occurs as an allergic response to milk, egg, fish and wheat. This is a chronic skin disorder and results in blistering, weeping and peeling of skin. Of the various types, atopic eczema is common for o allergic response leading to long-term inflammation, especially in infants and children. Typical changes in the skin during this condition include blisters with oozing and crusting, discharge and bleeding from the ears, dark pigmentation of the skin, redness of the skin or inflammation or erythema, thickening of the skin like lichenification leading to long-term irritation. Eggs, citrus fruits and tomatoes are involved in initiating atopical eczema.

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4.    Anaphylaxis :

Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is a whole-body allergic reaction causing difficulty in breathing due to swelling in the airways and dilation of blood vessels resulting in a drop in blood pressure. This is a life-threatening reaction.  Anaphylactic symptoms develop within minutes or seconds. This will include abdominal cramping or pain, abnormal breathing sounds, anxiety, confusion, cough, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, light-headedness, hives, and itchiness, reddening of skin, wheezing, and difficulty in speech, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting and palpitations. Other symptoms will include arrhythmia, pulmonary edema, mental confusion, rapid pulse, weakness and bluing of skin. Anaphylaxis, if turns into a life-threatening shock, can cause such a sudden drop in blood pressure resulting in immediate death.

5.    Gastrointestinal Distresses :

Diarrhea, nausea and constipation accompanied with stomach pain before, during and after the allergic responses are the common symptoms of food allergy, especially those of dairy products. These symptoms are grouped together and are better known as gastro-intestinal hypersensitivity. Other associated gastro-intestinal symptoms include headaches, development of migraines in the end, asthma, emotional disorders like feeling of “impending doom” (a fear that something bad will happen) and asthma.

Related posts:

1. Diagnosis of Food Allergy
2. Treatment of Food Allergies
3. Food Allergies
4. Food Allergies in Infants and Children
5. AAFA Resources to Help You Tide over Allergy