Recognizing Allergy Symptoms
Firstly, it is crucial to recognize allergy symptoms which commonly include:
- Hives or skin rash
- Nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting or diarrhea
- Stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, or slight, dry cough
- Odd taste in mouth
- Uterine contractions
More severe symptoms that warrant immediate medical intervention include:
- Swelling of lips, tongue, and throat
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, or trouble breathing
- Weak pulse, white or blue skin color, fainting, confusion
- Anaphylaxis - a potentially life-threatening reaction that can simultaneously affect two or more organ systems (heart, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract, for instance)
What to Do After Consumption
Mild-to-moderate reaction
If you have a known food allergy and realize you ate something containing the allergen, stop eating the food immediately and take an antihistamine such as a diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Monitor your symptoms closely and if they worsen, seek immediate medical care.
Severe reaction
If you experience severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or choking, treat it as a medical emergency. Use your epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen) if you have one and call your local emergency service immediately.
Consulting Your Health Provider
After receiving immediate care for any severe reactions, it's essential to book a follow-up appointment with your physician or allergist. They will be able to review what happened, potentially update your allergy action plan and may refer you for allergen immunotherapy.
Curex: Allergy immunotherapy
Curex is a leading company specializing in allergy immunotherapy which is an effective preventive treatment for allergic reactions to substances such as foods, pollen, and house dust mites. The method involves gradually increasing exposure to allergens over time, via injections, drops, or tablets, to build up tolerance.
Immunotherapy doesn’t cure allergies but can significantly reduce your sensitivity to your allergy triggers and lessen your allergic response. In some cases, immunotherapy can lead to lasting relief from allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped. This makes it a cost-effective, beneficial treatment approach for many people suffering from allergies.
Even though immunotherapy is widely used in the treatment of allergies, it’s not suitable for everyone and it’s not effective for treating some types of allergies, such as food allergies. Discuss with your health care provider about the potential benefits and if it is an option for you.