What are the hazards?
An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it.
Reactions usually begin within minutes and rapidly progress but can occur up to 2-3 hours later. Food allergens are the most common cause of serious allergic reactions, but some people will have serious reactions to other allergens, including pollen, animals (particularly cats, dogs, and horses), stinging insects, medicines, and even from unknown causes.
Allergic reactions can vary from mild to life-threatening and may affect the skin, eyes and/or the respiratory system. Shortness of breath, excessive sneezing, watery eyes, skin irritation, swelling, rashes, and nausea are some common symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Common allergens include:
• Aerosols
• Animal fur, particularly from pets like cats and dogs
• Chemicals
• Dust
• Foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, shellfish (food allergy)
• Insect stings, such as bee and wasp stings
• Certain medicines
• Mould
• Perfume and scented products
• Tree and grass pollen (hay fever)
What Can Go Wrong?
Individuals can have allergies to different allergens which vary from person to person. In one instance, you may have multiple people who have nut allergies. One individual may be able to smell, touch or perhaps ingest a small number of nuts without having a fatal reaction. Another may be exposed to the smallest trace but with fatal results.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:
• A runny nose or sneezing
• Pain or tenderness around the 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