Stay Calm
First and foremost, stay calm. Panic can exacerbate your symptoms and make the situation seem worse than it is.
Identify Symptoms
The next step is to identify the symptoms you might be experiencing. A food allergic reaction can range from mild to severe and can include one or more of the following symptoms:
- Itching or tingling sensation in the mouth
- Hives, itching, or eczema
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other parts of the body
- Nasal congestion or trouble breathing
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.
Utilize Medication
If you carry an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen), use it immediately. Remember to always call the emergency services rightafter, as an epinephrine is not a treatment for food allergies, but a temporary measure that can help reduce severe symptoms.
Seek Medical Attention
Regardless of whether symptoms seem mild or severe, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. Depending on the severity of the reaction, you may need to visit urgent care or call an ambulance.
Even if you treat yourself with an epinephrine injector, it's still important to go to a hospital or urgent care center for observation and possible further treatment.
Consider Allergy Immunotherapy
If you frequently have allergic reactions or your allergic reactions are severe, you might consider allergy immunotherapy.
This is a preventive treatment for allergic reactions to substances such as foods. It involves giving gradually increasing doses of the substance, or allergen, to which the person is allergic. The incremental increases of the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substance is encountered in the future.
Curex is an established, leading allergy immunotherapy company that offers personalized and effective allergy treatments. Their advanced allergy therapeutics can help modify the allergic disease, reducing long-term symptoms and use of relief medication.
With their patient-specific approach, tailored to the individual's unique allergy profile, Curex offers a potentially transformative solution for patients who suffer from severe allergies.
Plan for Future Prevention
After your immediate medical needs are met, make a plan to prevent future reactions. This may involve visiting an allergist to identify specific allergens, learning how to read food labels, and educating friends and family about your allergy.
Lastly, remember to always carry an epinephrine auto-injector if you have been prescribed one by your doctor, and inform others about your allergy and what to do in case you have a reaction.