When to Seek Medical Help After a Food Reaction

Call 911 first for these signs

MedlinePlus says anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that needs medical attention right away, and to call 911 or the local emergency number immediately. [1] It says symptoms usually develop within seconds or minutes and can include difficulty breathing, wheezing or high-pitched breathing sounds, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the face, eyes or tongue, dizziness, slurred speech, hives, abdominal pain, vomiting and unconsciousness. [1] A warning sign of dangerous throat swelling is a very hoarse or whispered voice, or coarse sounds when breathing in. [1]

The UK NHS lists the same kinds of emergency signs, among them sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, struggling to breathe, a tight throat, blue, grey or pale skin, sudden confusion or drowsiness, fainting, and a child who is limp or floppy. It says to call the UK emergency number, 999. [2] In the United States the number is 911.

If the person has been prescribed an epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector, MedlinePlus says an epinephrine injector or intranasal epinephrine should be used immediately if available, and the NHS says to call for an ambulance after using it even if the person seems better. [1][2] Do not give food or drink by mouth to someone having trouble breathing, according to MedlinePlus. [1] For more on allergy emergencies from natural products, see severe allergic reactions; for all emergency numbers, see the emergency quick reference.

If you think someone swallowed something poisonous, Poison Help in the US is 1-800-222-1222; see poisoning: what to do first.

Food allergy: mild signs versus emergency signs

MedlinePlus says food allergy symptoms usually start within a few minutes to two hours after eating and may include hives, flushed skin, tingling in the mouth, swelling of the face, tongue or lips, vomiting or diarrhea, belly cramps, coughing or wheezing, and dizziness. [3] The NHS says symptoms may appear straight after eating or days later, and that most food allergy symptoms are not serious but it can be serious for some people. [2]

Food intolerance is different from allergy. MedlinePlus says intolerance is typically digestive, such as bloating and gas, and is not an immune system reaction. [3] For detail, see food allergy basics and emergency signs. There is no cure for food allergy; the only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid the food, and a provider can prescribe emergency medicine and an action plan. [3][2]

After a food reaction that is not an emergency

The sources agree on a few steps: see a doctor to find out whether it was an allergy, because testing may involve skin tests, blood tests, an elimination diet or an oral food challenge. [3] The NHS also says not to cut foods out of the diet without speaking to a GP. [2] See also side effects and reporting if the reaction followed a supplement or herbal product.

Food poisoning: when to get help

The NHS says food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week, with symptoms such as feeling sick, diarrhoea, tummy pain and a high temperature. [5] It lists signs to get urgent advice: worry about a baby under 12 months, a child under 5 with signs of dehydration, being unable to keep fluids down, bloody diarrhoea, or diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days. [5] It advises calling the emergency number for vomiting blood, a stiff neck with sensitivity to light, a sudden severe headache or tummy ache, or confusion. [5] The FDA says foodborne illness can start within 20 minutes or up to 6 weeks after eating, and says to contact a healthcare provider immediately if you think you or a family member has a foodborne illness. [6]

Infant botulism

MedlinePlus lists symptoms of botulism as double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness, and says all forms are medical emergencies. [7] It says infant botulism happens when a baby consumes spores from soil or honey. [7] See foods for babies.

What to tell the clinician

Proper evidence not found, in the pages we read, for an official checklist of what to report after a food reaction. The general guide talking with a health professional covers what to bring to an appointment.