There are three main substance categories that life-threatening allergens fall into: food, insects, and medications. Exposure to one of these allergens can cause immediate anaphylaxis, which can include symptoms like throat swelling, rash or hives, dizziness, and dangerously low blood pressure. In extreme cases, anaphylaxis can cause death.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis can appear seconds or hours after exposure to the allergen, but at the first signs of anaphylaxis, it’s critical to seek immediate medical attention. Some of the most common life-threatening food allergies are:
- Peanuts: the most common food allergy
- Walnuts, cashews, and other tree nuts
- Milk and other dairy products
- Legumes such as soy bean, lentils, and green beans: peanuts are also technically a legume
- Crab, shrimp, lobster, and other shellfish: sometimes, even just the cooking vapors of these foods can cause a reaction
The top foods that cause the most severe allergies — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat — must be listed on all ingredient labels. That being said, it’s good to be mindful of derivative products, like whey, which is made from milk.
Insect bites and stings can also cause severe allergies in people. Stings from bees, wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets, and bites from ants and ticks are the most common. An allergist can prescribe medications that can help to prevent anaphylaxis caused by stings and bites.
Antibiotics like penicillin, as well as over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can also cause severe allergic reactions. Oftentimes, your physician can prescribe alternative medications to account for allergies.
