Food allergy

In food allergy, the immune system reacts to a food that is harmless to most people. Symptoms may develop quickly, with hives, swelling, vomiting, breathlessness or circulatory problems, but slower forms also exist. Anaphylaxis is unpredictable: for airway, breathing or circulation symptoms, use the prescribed adrenaline auto-injector immediately and call an ambulance.

• Itching, hives, redness or swelling of the lips, tongue, eyelids or face shortly after eating.
• Abdominal pain, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, particularly alongside skin, breathing or circulation symptoms.
• Always carry prescribed adrenaline where it is immediately accessible, check its expiry date and ensure the fluid and viewing window look normal according to the product instructions.
• Practise regularly with a trainer pen, and teach family, school staff, colleagues and travel companions where the pens are and how the personal emergency plan works.
• Make an appointment after every suspected food reaction to assess the cause, emergency plan and safe diet, even if symptoms have now resolved.
• For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.
• For tongue or throat swelling, hoarseness, persistent coughing, wheezing, severe breathlessness, becoming pale and floppy or weak, dizziness, confusion or collapse, immediately use the prescribed adrenaline auto-injector in the outer thigh.