How To Recognize Allergy Symptoms - Allergy

Allergy symptoms range from those that are occasional and only mildly bothersome to those that are chronic or life threatening. The type and severity of your symptoms depend on the type of allergy you have.

Common allergy symptoms include:

Itching. The skin or the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, mouth and throat may become uncomfortable and itchy.

Skin rash or hives. Skin reactions ranging from a fine bumpy rash to large raised welts (hives) can be caused by an allergy but may also result from an infection or another cause.

Drainage from the nose or eyes. Clear drainage (runny nose or tears) occurs due to allergy activity.

Sinus pressure. A feeling of pressure and discomfort may develop on the top of your head, above your eyebrows, behind your eyes, under your eyes or on your cheeks, upper jaw, ears or neck.

Sore throat and morning cough. Allergy may lead to a cough, sore throat and tickle in the back of your throat when lying down. These symptoms may be caused by mucus dripping from the back of the nose into the throat, a condition called postnasal drip.

Wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Allergies may cause the airways to become inflamed and constricted in people with asthma, causing wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Swelling of the mouth, lips, or throat. This can be a sign of anaphylaxis from an injected substance (such as insect venom or radiology contrast dye) or it can be a limited local reaction to a food that is an allergy trigger.

Digestive problems. Food allergies may result in a variety of symptoms relating to the digestive tract. These may include vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.

It is also important to recognize warning signs of a more serious allergic reaction that can affect the whole body; this reaction is called anaphylaxis.

Last updated July 14, 2010

Printer-friendly format