Description:

Allergies

An allergy is where your body reacts to something that's normally harmless like pollen, dust or animal fur. The symptoms can be mild, but for some people they can be very serious.

Causes of allergies

Things that cause allergic reactions are called allergens.

Common allergens include:

tree and grass pollen ( hay fever )
house dust mites
foods, such as peanuts, milk and eggs ( food allergy )
animal fur, particularly from pets like cats and dogs
insect stings, such as bee and wasp stings
certain medicines

Check if it's an allergy

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

a runny nose or sneezing
pain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
coughing, wheezing or breathlessness
itchy skin or a raised rash ( hives )
diarrhoea
feeling or being sick
swollen eyes, lips, mouth or throat

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
you're wheezing
you get tightness in the chest or throat
you have trouble breathing or talking
your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction ( anaphylaxis ) and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Find your nearest A&E

Information:

If you have an adrenaline auto-injector

If you or someone you're with is having a serious allergic reaction and has an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen), you should use it immediately.

Instructions are included on the side of the injector if you forget how to use it or someone else needs to give you the injection.

Call 999 for an ambulance after using the injector, even if you or the person you're with seems to be feeling better.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

you think you or your child may have an allergy

What happens at your appointment

A GP may arrange some allergy tests or refer you to a specialist allergy clinic to have them.

Tests you may have include:

a skin prick or patch test – where a small amount of the allergen is put on your skin to see if it reacts
blood tests – to check for allergens that may be causing your symptoms
a special diet where you avoid or eat less of a food you might be allergic to, to see if your symptoms get better

Treatments for allergies

Treatments for allergies include:

trying to avoid the thing you're allergic to whenever possible
medicines for mild allergic reactions like antihistamines , steroid tablets and steroid creams
emergency medicines called adrenaline auto-injectors, such as an EpiPen, for severe allergic reactions
desensitisation (immunotherapy) for severe allergic reactions – this involves carefully exposing you to the thing you're allergic to over time, so your body gradually gets used to it and does not react so badly (this should only be done by a medical professional)

Your specialist will give you an allergy management plan that will explain how to manage your allergy.