Allergic Reaction: Check Your Symptoms

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Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Yes

Have you used an epinephrine shot to treat an allergic reaction or been accidentally stuck with an epinephrine shot?

Yes

Do you have hives?

Yes

Do you have wheezing or difficulty breathing?

Yes

Do you have new swelling?

Yes

Do you have a rash and you are not sure if the rash was caused by an allergic reaction or a skin infection?

Yes

Do you think your symptoms may be caused by a medicine?

Yes

Do you have itching?

Yes

Do you think you have hay fever symptoms?

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• An insect bite or sting or spider bite: Go to the topic Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites.
• A tick bite: Go to the topic Tick Bites.
• A snake or lizard bite: Go to the topic Snake and Lizard Bites.
• A problem with an area of the body that has been pierced: Go to the topic Body Piercing Problems.
• A sinus infection, such as headache, facial pain, or fever: Go to the topic Facial Problems, Noninjury.
• Ear pain: Go to the topic Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older or Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger.
• A cough that produces a lot of mucus: Go to the topic Coughs.
• Nosebleeds: Go to the topic Nosebleeds.
• Rash: Go to the topic Rash, Age 11 or Younger or Rash, Age 12 and Older.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Last updated:	July 11, 2007
Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer