Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

Food Allergy

Symptoms

It's not always easy to know when someone has a food allergy, because there are many different symptoms. They include:

• Hives (a raised, pink, itchy rash)

• Scratchy throat

• Stomachache

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Swelling, especially around the mouth and face

• Itchy eyes

• Nasal congestion/runny nose

• Other rashes, including eczema

• Wheezing, or just trouble breathing

• Difficulty with swallowing

• Rapid heart rate

• Lightheadedness

• In babies and small children, poor growth or blood in the stool

In severe cases, something called anaphylaxis can happen. This whole-body allergic reaction combines many of the symptoms mentioned above and can lead to death if not treated immediately.