Stay Calm

First and foremost, it is essential to remain calm after ingesting an allergen. Panic and anxiety can worsen the symptoms and make it harder to take the next necessary steps in managing your reaction.

Identify the Severity of the Reaction

Identify the severity of your allergic reaction. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include:

• Hand, skin, or lip swelling
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid pulse and heartbeat

Symptoms may occur immediately or may develop in an hour or two.

Seek Immediate Medical Assistance

If you have any of the above severe symptoms, especially difficulty breathing, dial 911 for immediate medical assistance. If possible, inform the medical team about your allergies.

Administer Antihistamine

For mild reactions, if you have a non-prescription antihistamine handy, consider taking it. This will often ease mild symptoms, such as:

• Skin rash
• Itching
• Mild swelling

Remember to follow the package instructions and only use as directed.

Use of Epinephrine

If you have been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector because of previous severe allergic reactions, use it immediately. Inject it into the outer muscle of your thigh. These auto-injectors come in two doses, a higher dose for adults and a lower dose for children. Certain situations may require more than one dose, so it's best to have two auto-injectors available.

Follow-Up Treatment

Even after your symptoms improve, it's necessary to seek further medical attention. An allergic reaction can continue hours after exposure to the allergen. This could lead to a second reaction, called a biphasic reaction, which needs immediate medical attention.

Allergy Immunotherapy

Consider allergy immunotherapy as a long-term solution to manage your allergies. Allergy immunotherapy gradually exposes your body to increasing doses of the allergens. This helps condition your immune system to tolerate the allergens and decrease allergic symptoms in the future.

The Curex team, composed of trusted allergists, works with you to develop a customized immunotherapy treatment plan that fits your needs based on your allergic profile.

Their allergy drops, used in sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), have received much recognition. They are convenient, as you can administer them at home, and are deemed safer than shots with fewer systemic reactions.

Concluding Note

After experiencing an allergic reaction, it's significant to revise and plan strategies to avoid allergens of concern. Even trace amounts present in a food product can trigger a reaction. Therefore, it's crucial to check the ingredient lists for all foods consumed. If there are food-related gatherings, inform the host of your allergy, and consider bringing a safe meal of your own.