So far in this blog we have discussed what allergens are and how to distinguish the packaging with allergic ingredients. Unfortunately people don’t always take note of the ingredients they are using when cooking or they don’t cook their own food so they are oblivious to some of the ingredients used. So this blog will discuss the main symptoms of allergic reactions and what the steps of treatment are.
Firstly what are the symptoms? All of the symptoms will occur within a few minutes up to an hours of consuming the food. The initial effects experienced may be itching in the mouth and difficulty swallowing and breathing. Once the food begins to be digested symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain can occur. Allergens can also induce reactions on contact with certain areas of the body. When in contact with the skin hives, rashes and eczema can occur. If the allergens reach the airways it can cause asthma and difficulty breathing. The most severe effect of allergens is anaphylaxis, which is a sudden drop in blood pressure. It start off as tingling in the mouth and throat and if not treated quickly can be fatal.
When treating an allergic reaction there are different ways, prognosis depends mainly on the severity of the reaction. For miner reactions that cause redness in the skin and itchiness certain medications can be taken, for asthma inhalers can be used. If the reaction is more severe than an EpiPen might be needed. If you do not have any medication then immediate medical assistance will be needed.
The best way of avoiding an allergic reaction is to know what affects your body and to always be careful of what you eat.