The greatest danger in food allergy comes from anaphylaxis, a violent allergic reaction involving a number of parts of the body simultaneously. Anaphylaxis can produce severe symptoms in as little as 5 to 15 minutes, although life-threatening reactions may progress over hours. Signs of such a reaction include difficulty breathing, feeling of impending doom, swelling of the mouth and throat, a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. The sooner that anaphylaxis is treated, the greater the person's chance of surviving. The person should be taken to a hospital emergency room, even if symptoms seem to subside on their own.
Doctors can instruct patients with allergies on how to self-administer epinephrine.
Such prompt treatment can be crucial to survival. Finding the forbidden Because there is no cure for food allergies other than strict avoidance of an offending food, one of the biggest problems those with food allergies face is verifying whether a forbidden product is contained in a particular food. Read food labels. The new labeling changes make it easier for the consumer to readily identify things they could be allergic to. When eating out, ask about ingredients if you are unsure about a particular food.