All about allergy

A person with a food allergy can have symptoms beginning as soon as 2 minutes after eating the food, but reactions may take 1-2 hours to appear. Occasionally, symptoms abate quickly, only to recur in 3-4 hours.
The most common symptoms include the following:
Itching of the skin followed by hives, a rash of raised, reddish bumps or wheals
Swelling of the lips and mouth
Belly cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Other symptoms may include the following:
Itching and watering in the eyes
Runny or stuffy nose
Symptoms of a more severe reaction could include the following:
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Tightness in the chest
Feeling of tightness or choking in the throat
Rapid or irregular heart beat
Feeling dizzy or light-headed
Losing consciousness
A severe allergic reaction can be life threatening. This severe reaction is referred to as anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock.
The dizziness, light-headedness, and loss of consciousness are due to dangerously low blood pressure, called «shock.»
An anaphylactic reaction can begin suddenly, or it may develop gradually with itchiness and swelling of the skin and throat and then progress to a severe reaction over a few hours.
Most people get such a reaction immediately after eating the food, but in a few unusual cases the reaction occurs only after exercising following the ingestion of the food.
Severe reactions are most often seen with allergies to nuts, fish, and shellfish, although allergy to any food can cause anaphylaxis.
People with asthma, childhood allergies, eczema, or prior severe food allergies are especially at risk for having an anaphylactic reaction.
MSG reaction can be mistaken for an allergic reaction.
Symptoms of MSG reaction include the following:
Burning sensation at the back of the neck and radiating down the arms and chest
Tingling and numbness in the same areas
Headache
Nausea
Occasionally, difficulty breathing, especially in those with poorly controlled asthma
A few people experience seizures, irregular heartbeats, and anaphylaxis after the use of MSG.
Contrary to popular beliefs, MSG has no relation to Alzheimer disease, Huntington chorea, or other chronic illnesses.

Allergy journal

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