Allergies Health Center

Symptoms of allergic reactions depend primarily on the allergen itself. Certain allergens trigger mild responses while other allergens result in severe reactions.

Symptoms can be mild including sneezing, coughing, skin irritation and a runny nose but can include more serious reactions such as indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, an extreme and sometimes life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis can occur in response to allergic reactions to certain drugs, bee stings or even foods. This reaction causes the patient's airway to close due to swelling. 

An example of a mild allergic reaction is the itchy eyes and runny nose that often accompany pollen or seasonal allergies. 

A more serious reaction can include the swelling of the tongue, difficulty breathing and the tightening of the throat and chest that comes with certain food allergies. 

Anaphylaxis is a severe form of allergic reaction which sometimes occurs in reactions to food and drug allergens. The reaction may begin suddenly and is serious enough to result in death if not treated immediately. The most severe of the symptoms restrict breathing and blood circulation.

Typical symptoms of anaphylaxis include: itching, red, or swelling skin, hives, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching and swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, tightness in the throat or difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, tightness of the chest, weak pulse, shock, diarrhea, cramps, dizziness or fainting. These symptoms may begin several minutes to several hours after the exposure. The symptoms may sometimes go away only to return 2 to 4 hours later. When the symptoms begin to appear, you must seek immediate medical attention.