Assess your symptoms
The signs of a food allergy can come on rapidly and may include:
- Itching or swelling in your mouth
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps and pain
- Hives or eczema
- Tightening of the throat and difficulty in swallowing
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other parts of the body
- Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
- Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting
The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis—a life-threatening whole-body response to an allergen.
Seek immediate medical help
If you experience severe symptoms, particularly difficulties with breathing or signs of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Manage mild symptoms
If symptoms are mild and manageable, take an over-the-counter antihistamine, which can help alleviate itching, swelling, and other allergic symptoms. However, do this only if you have a history of mild allergic reactions to the specific food allergen and your doctor has approved such self-care measures.
Avoid the allergen
Avoid eating any more of the allergenic food. Also, be sure to let the staff at any dining establishment know about your food allergy in the future so they can ensure your meal is free of allergens.
Contact your doctor
Especially if this is the first time you've had a reaction. Even if your past reactions have been mild, they may increase in severity with each successive exposure.
It's important to get tested to confirm the allergy, understand its severity, and receive proper guidance on managing it. You may receive additional medication to manage your symptoms or a prescription for an epinephrine autoinjector for severe reactions.
Consider long-term solutions
Like allergy immunotherapy, which gradually exposes your immune system to the allergen in order to build up tolerance and reduce symptoms.
Treatment can target common allergens — milk, wheat, soy, egg. These specific treatments can significantly decrease symptoms, and in some cases, remove the allergy completely. However, it's essential that you discuss these options with a healthcare provider, as this treatment might not be appropriate for everyone.