What are some signs and symptoms of a peanut allergy?

Peanut allergies have the signs and symptoms of a typical food allergy. This includes diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, hives, facial / throat swelling (this can lead to difficulty breathing), eczema (an itchy, dry rash on the skin), and possibly anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a life threatening reaction which needs urgent treatment with adrenaline (usually carried in an EpiPen), and is explained in more detail in another article.

Signs and symptoms of a peanut allergy are often more severe than those of other allergies. It is thought by many that this is because the body's immune system recognises peanut allergens more easily than allergens found in other foods.

These symptoms can occur within minutes or seconds of eating peanuts in immediate reactions. They may also take hours to appear – this is known as a delayed-type reaction. Delayed-type reactions make spotting your allergen more difficult.

Peanut Allergies Guide Index:



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