Food Allergy Anaphylaxis

There are millions of people with food allergies. Sometimes a food that has been consumed numerous times will suddenly cause an allergic reaction. Some allergic reactions can be very severe, resulting in shock or even death.

People can be allergic to any food or substance, but the most common foods that cause allergies are:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Peanuts and tree nuts (such as cashews and walnuts)
• Soy
• Shellfish
• Wheat
• Fish

Avoiding the food you are allergic to is a good idea, but quite often these things are hidden in other food. If you have a known food allergy, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for an EpiPen. EpiPen contains the medication epinephrine. Epinephrine is used to treat the most severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis.

Food allergy anaphylaxis happens too often because of the hidden substance that causes the allergy, and the lack of educating the people involved in the life of the allergic person about the allergy and how serious it is.

Symptom of food allergy anaphylaxis can include hives, itching, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or eyes, difficulty breathing because of swelling in the throat, wheezing, heart palpitations, sudden abdominal problems, confusion, anxiety, and fear. When there are two or more symptoms that appear suddenly and affect different parts of the body, it is probably anaphylaxis.

If there is an anaphylaxis attack, treating it immediately can save a life. If there isn't an EpiPen available to use, offer the victim Benadryl or another antihistamine medication. This will help to calm some of the symptoms, giving more time for medical help to arrive. If there are respiratory symptoms, using a rescue inhaler may help with breathing.

To learn more about food allergy anaphylaxis, visit Allergy Anaphylaxis.