Ask Food Allergy Expert/Allergy Specialist/ Allergist

Step 1: Verify the symptoms you are experiencing:

Most common symptoms of allergy include:

• Tingling sensation or itching in and around the mouth
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, throat or other parts of the body
• Hives, itching or eczema
• Cough, wheezing or trouble breathing
•  Nasal congestion
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergy.

Symptoms of Anaphylaxis:

• Generalized urticaria and angioedema
• Itching, tightness in the throat and
• Hoarseness of voice
• Skin itching, hives, redness
• Vomiting, diarrhea, cramps in the abdomen
• Respiratory difficulty,
• A cough, wheeze

Only a few symptoms may be present. The severity of symptoms can change quickly.

Step 2: Attend any medical facility / Allergist’s Chamber.

Bring all past medical records. Tell your physician about the symptoms.

Step 3: Do Allergy test.

Your physician may advise you to do certain test to find out the cause.

Most common Allergy test includes the following:

• Skin test/Skin Prick Test (SPT)- using food allergen
• Blood test to detect food allergen-specific IgE
• Elimination diet
• Oral food challenge

Step 4: Follow medication as prescribed by your physician.

Your Allergist most probably prescribe any of the following medication

Medications include-

Antihistamines: the most common medicine used for allergy. These medicines are effective in mild to moderate allergic reactions.

Most common Antihistamines include:

• Fexofenadine
• Cetirizine
• Levocetirizine
• Desloratadine

Corticosteroids:

• Oral steroid for a short period of time.

Immunotherapy:

• Immunotherapy or allergy shots can change the natural history of allergic disease.
• It can cure allergy in a few patients.
• It requires long-term treatment.

For severe allergic reaction or in anaphylaxis:

Injection Adrenaline/ Epinephrine. This can be given by personal adrenaline autoinjector or in the hospital.

You can ask a question on Allergy by filling up the following form. This is for a further opinion from the expert. But please remember that a personal contact with any Allergist / Physician is the best for any patient. Any internet advice is not the substitution of any medical condition. It may take time to respond to each and every query.