Because allergic reactions can progress and worsen in minutes, medical attention is always recommended for all but the most minor and localized symptoms

If the symptoms of your allergic reaction get worse over a few days, or if they do not get better with recommended treatment and removal of the allergen, call your health care provider.

Tell your health care provider if you have any allergic symptoms after using a drug or other treatment he or she prescribed for you (Drug Allergy).

Allergic reactions can be dangerous. Sudden, severe, widespread reactions require emergency evaluation by a medical professional. Call an ambulance if you or someone around you has any of the following with an allergic reaction:

1. Sudden, severe, rapidly worsening symptoms
2. Exposure to an allergen that previously caused severe or bad reactions
3. Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
4. Wheezing, chest tightness, loud breathing, or trouble breathing
5. Confusion, sweating, nausea, or vomiting
6. Widespread rash
7. Collapse or unconsciousness

Self-Care at Home

Avoid triggers! If you know you have an allergic reaction to peanuts, for example, do not eat them. Go out of your way to avoid foods prepared with or around peanuts (Food Allergy).

Self-care at home is not enough in severe reactions. A severe reaction is a medical emergency

1. Do not attempt to treat or "wait out" severe reactions at home. Go immediately to a hospital emergency department


2. If no one is immediately available to drive you, dial 911 for emergency medical transport. See Anaphylaxis for more advice on what to do in the event of a severe response.

Nonprescriptionallergy drugs usually work for minor reactions with minimal symptoms.

• An oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Caution – These may make you too drowsy to drive or operate machinery safely. They can affect concentration and interfere with children's learning in school. These medications should be taken for only a few days. An anti-inflammatory steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone, can be used to treat rashes

Try cold, damp cloths or ice for minor, localized skin responses. Try wrapping a package of frozen vegetables in a towel.

Prevention

Most people learn to recognize their allergy triggers; they also learn to avoid them.

An allergy specialist (allergist) may be able to help you identify your triggers. Several different types of allergy tests are used to identify triggers.

1. Skin Skin testing is the most common and effective method. There are multiple approaches, but they all entail exposing the Skin to little amounts of different compounds and observing the reactions over time .
2. RAST blood tests are commonly used to detect IgE antibodies to specific antigens. Other tests involve removing allergens from your environment and then reintroducing them to see whether you have a reaction

People who have a history of severe or anaphylactic reactions may be given an auto-injector, sometimes known as a bee-sting kit This contains a premeasured dose of epinephrine (one brand name is EpiPen). If you are exposed to a substance that causes a severe allergic reaction, you carry this with you and promptly inject yourself with medication

There is some proof that breast-fed infants are less likely to have allergies than bottle-fed infants.