Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Allergy symptoms vary, but may include:
- Breathing problems (coughing, shortness of breath)
- Burning, tearing, or itchy eyes
-
Conjunctivitis (red, swollen eyes) - Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Hives
- Itching of the nose, mouth, throat, skin, or any other area
- Runny nose
- Skin rashes
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
What part of the body is contacted by the allergen plays a role in the symptoms you develop. For example:
- Allergens that are breathed in often cause a stuffy nose, itchy nose and throat, mucus production, cough, or
wheezing - Allergens that touch the eyes may cause itchy, watery, red, swollen eyes.
- Eating something you are allergic to can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, or a severe, life-threatening reaction
- Allergens that touch the skin can cause a skin rash, hives, itching, blisters, or even skin peeling
- Drug allergies usually involve the whole body and can lead to a variety of symptoms
Signs and tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions such as when the allergy occurs.
Images
Antibodies
Allergies
Introduction to allergy treatment
Hives (urticaria) on the chest
Hives (urticaria) - close-up
Histamine is released
Allergy symptoms
Allergies
Allergic reactions
Hives (urticaria) on the arm
Hives (urticaria) on the trunk
Review Date: 06/29/2010
Reviewed By: Paula J. Busse, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of
Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
