What are the symptoms of food allergy?

4 Main symptoms: 1) skin – hives (welts), swelling of face/lips, or even hands and feet, itching 2) breathing – shortness of breath, wheezing, tightening of airway, chest tightness, neck tightness 3) gastrointestinal – violent vomiting and abdominal pain 4) heart and vascular – decreased blood pressure leading to fainting.

Food allergy symptom: Food allergies can produce a very wide variety of symptoms. They can cause mouth itching or swelling, tongue or throat swelling, esophageal reflux-type symptoms, food impactions, nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, loose stools, diarrhea, flatulence. Outside the GI tract: anaphylaxis, general itching, eye, ear, nose, chest or skin symptoms - rashes, atopic derm, hives; even joint pains.

Can vary: Ige mediated food allergy symptoms may include hives, swelling, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and even drop in blood pressure. Symptoms typically occur within 2 hours of food ingestion. For more info go to foodallergy.Org.

Allergy Testing: If you are having symptoms that you believe are due to food allergy, you should be seen by a board certified allergist and have appropriate allergy testing performed to help determine if you are allergic and to what food you are allergic. If you suspect a specific food, stop eating it immediately.

It depends: It really depends on what symptoms you are experiencing. For throat tightness or shortness of breath call and ambulance or get to the emergency room. For skin rash you can take an over the counter antihistamine such as diphenhydramine. Either way it is best to keep a food diary and discuss the foods you believe are causing your symptoms with your doctor.