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Home Allergies. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis can occur within minutes. Signs of a mild to moderate allergic reaction include: swelling of lips, face, eyes hives or welts appearing on the skin tingling mouth abdominal pain, vomiting these are signs of anaphylaxis for insect allergy.
Triggers for anaphylaxis Some of the more common triggers allergens that can lead to anaphylaxis include: food — any food can be a trigger. Ticks arachnids can also trigger anaphylaxis medicines — some prescription drugs such as penicillin , over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin and herbal preparations.
These include: poorly controlled asthma exercise alcohol fatigue posture — standing and walking hormonal changes for example, in women that are premenstrual or menstrual taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
You will need regular follow-up visits with an allergy specialist. Tests used in the diagnosis of allergy may include: medical history including detailed questioning about what led up to the event physical examination of signs and assessment of symptoms blood tests to check for the presence of particular antibodies skin prick tests to confirm or rule out suspected triggers tests to exclude other medical conditions that can look like an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
Treatment for anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Adrenaline injection Adrenaline injection is used to treat anaphylaxis. Prevention of anaphylaxis The best way to avoid anaphylaxis is to: avoid triggers — the most important management strategy is to avoid all known triggers allergens if you have a food allergy, always read food labels and disclose your allergy when eating out that means letting the staff know about your allergy.
Tell people about your allergy: Let your workplace know about your allergy, and make a few select work colleagues aware of where your emergency medication is kept, and how to administer it to you. If you have a medication allergy, be sure to always disclose your allergy to every treating doctor and pharmacist.
Wear a medical identification bracelet — if you lose consciousness, your medical identification bracelet will advise ambulance officers or hospital staff of your condition. If you are finding your food allergy difficult to manage, or if you have multiple food allergies, consider making an appointment with an accredited dietitian.
If you have symptoms after starting a new medication, call the doctor who prescribed it right away. For a severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis , call or your local emergency number or seek emergency medical help. If you carry an epinephrine auto-injector Auvi-Q, EpiPen, others , give yourself a shot right away. Even if your symptoms improve after an epinephrine injection, you should go to the emergency department to make sure symptoms don't return when the effects of the injection wear off.
If you've had a severe allergy attack or any signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in the past, make an appointment to see your doctor. Evaluation, diagnosis and long-term management of anaphylaxis are complicated, so you'll probably need to see a doctor who specializes in allergies and immunology.
An allergy starts when your immune system mistakes a normally harmless substance for a dangerous invader. The immune system then produces antibodies that remain on the alert for that particular allergen.
When you're exposed to the allergen again, these antibodies can release a number of immune system chemicals, such as histamine, that cause allergy symptoms. Preventing allergic reactions depends on the type of allergy you have. General measures include the following:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Or you may feel very lightheaded or suddenly feel weak, confused, or restless. Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing. Long-term alcohol and drug problems. Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer. Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease. Medicines taken after organ transplant. Not having a spleen. Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury.
Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. These include: Passing out losing consciousness. Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out. Feeling very weak or having trouble standing. Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions. Shock is a life-threatening condition that may occur quickly after a sudden illness or injury. Babies and young children often have several symptoms of shock.
Being very sleepy or hard to wake up. Not responding when being touched or talked to. Breathing much faster than usual. Acting confused. The child may not know where he or she is. Make an Appointment Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks. If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment. If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor.
Seek Care Today Based on your answers, you may need care soon. Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today. If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning. If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner. Seek Care Now Based on your answers, you may need care right away. Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
You do not need to call an ambulance unless: You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you. You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down. Call Now Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
Call or other emergency services now. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, go to the emergency room now. You may have a reaction after the epinephrine wears off. Home Treatment You can use home treatment to relieve symptoms of: Itching or hives. Avoid more contact with whatever you think is causing the hives. A sore throat caused by postnasal drip. People age 8 years or older can gargle with warm salt water at least once each hour to help ease throat soreness.
Hay fever or other seasonal allergies. Use saline drops or a humidifier to help clear a stuffy nose. Or take an allergy medicine that's specific to your symptoms. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Allergies that are worse in damp weather. Mold may be the cause of allergies that get worse in damp weather. Mold produces spores that move, like pollen, in outdoor air during warmer months. During winter months, indoor molds can also be a problem.
Indoor allergies. Newer, energy-saving homes that are built with double- or triple-paned windows and more insulation keep heat and allergens indoors. Allergies to a pet or other animal. When allergies are worse around pets, symptoms may be caused by your pet's dead skin dander , urine, dried saliva, or hair. An antihistamine medicine, such as a nondrowsy one like loratadine Claritin or one that might make you sleepy like diphenhydramine Benadryl , may help relieve itching, redness, and swelling.
Don't give antihistamines to your child unless you've checked with the doctor first. Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream applied to the skin may help relieve itching. Prevention To prevent problems with severe allergic reactions: If you or your child has had a severe allergic reaction, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for epinephrine.
Learn how and when to give yourself an epinephrine shot, and have it near you at all times. Allergies: Giving Yourself an Epinephrine Shot Allergies in Children: Giving an Epinephrine Shot to a Child If you have had an allergic reaction, wear a medical identification tag to alert others to your allergies. If you know you have an allergy to a medicine, be sure any new doctor knows about your allergy before prescribing a medicine for you.
Ask your doctor if immunotherapy might help you. For this treatment, you get allergy shots or use pills that have a small amount of certain allergens in them. Your body "gets used to" the allergen, so you react less to it over time. This kind of treatment may help prevent or reduce some allergy symptoms.
If you have had a severe allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting, avoid the insect that caused the reaction. If anaphylaxis isn't treated right away, it can be fatal. Anaphylaxis symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen.
Sometimes, however, anaphylaxis can occur a half-hour or longer after exposure. In rare cases, anaphylaxis may be delayed for hours. Signs and symptoms include:. Seek emergency medical help if you, your child or someone else you're with has a severe allergic reaction. Don't wait to see if the symptoms go away. If you have an attack and you carry an epinephrine autoinjector, administer it right away.
Even if symptoms improve after the injection, you still need to go to an emergency room to make sure symptoms don't recur, even without more exposure to the allergen. This second reaction is called biphasic anaphylaxis. Make an appointment to see your provider if you or your child has had a severe allergy attack or signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in the past.
The diagnosis and long-term management of anaphylaxis are complicated, so you'll probably need to see a doctor who specializes in allergies and immunology. The immune system produces antibodies that defend against foreign substances. This is good when a foreign substance is harmful, such as certain bacteria or viruses. But some people's immune systems overreact to substances that don't normally cause an allergic reaction.
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