Allergy Care

> ⚠️ Ask your doctor or health care professional. This information is AI generated for education and NOT medical advice.

An allergy is an immune system reaction to a substance (allergen) that is normally harmless, ranging from mild irritation to a severe, life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis).

Common symptoms

Sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, rash or hives, swelling, digestive upset (for food allergies), and — in severe reactions — difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, or a drop in blood pressure.

General self-care measures

• Identify and avoid known triggers where possible.
• Take prescribed antihistamines or other medication as directed for known allergies.
• Carry an adrenaline auto-injector if prescribed for severe allergy risk, and know how and when to use it.
• Keep a written action plan for known severe allergies, shared with people around you.

When to seek medical attention

• Signs of anaphylaxis (difficulty breathing, swelling of the face/ throat, rapid pulse, dizziness, or fainting) — this is a medical emergency; use an adrenaline auto-injector if available and call emergency services immediately. See Urgent Emergency Care.
• New or worsening allergic reactions.
• Uncertainty about what's causing a reaction.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming a past mild reaction guarantees future reactions will also be mild — allergy severity can change and escalate on re-exposure.
• Not carrying a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector — even for someone who's "never needed it before"; severe reactions can occur unpredictably.
• Delaying using an adrenaline auto-injector out of uncertainty — when anaphylaxis is suspected, using it promptly and then seeking emergency care is the safer default.

Learn more

• Allergy Assessment for how allergies are clinically assessed.
• Hay Fever Care for a related, more specific allergic condition.
• Health Care for general navigation of health systems.