Signs and Symptoms of Allergic Reactions to Food

CUTANEOUS

Skin

• Pruritus (Itching)
• Skin flushing or erythema (redness)
• Pilor erection ("goosebumps")
• Rash: Urticaria (hives) - acute
• Eczema (usually delayed, >6 hours)
• Angioedema (swelling, especially face)

Oral cavity (lips, tongue, palate)

• Pruritus (Itching), numbness, dryness
• Edema (swelling, may also include the uvula)

Eyes, conjunctiva

• Pruritus (Itching)
• Periorbital (around eyes) edema, redness of conjunctiva and tearing

GASTROINTESTINAL

• Nausea, pain (except infants/young child)
• Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain (infants)

RESPIRATORY

Nose

• Pruritus (Itching)
• Nasal congestion or runniness, sneezing

Larynx, throat

• Pruritus (Itching), dryness/tightness
• Swelling around the larynx and vocal cord, voice hoarseness, stridor (inspiratory wheeze), cough

Lungs

• Shortness of breath, chest pain/tightness
• Respiratory distress (i.e., ↑ breathing rate, difficulty catching breath, ↓ peak expiratory flow measurement), cough, wheezing

HEART and CARDIOVASCULAR

• Chest pain/ tightness, feeling of faintness, dizziness
• Syncope (fainting, loss of consciousness), hypotension (low) or shock (very low blood pressure), dysrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm)

OTHER

• "Sense of impending doom"
• Uterine contractions (women)