All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Allergy symptoms
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Some diseases have weak symptoms and you may not notice the developing disease for years. Allergies give symptoms instantly, which helps to diagnose them early. The same cannot be said about identifying the allergen. It can take a lot of time to identify it, especially if the allergen is not single, but combined or there is a cross-allergy.
Allergy symptoms have almost the same mechanism and proceed according to several principles:
- skin (urticaria, dermatitis),
- respiratory (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma);
- aggressive (Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock).
This division is very conditional and is based on the prevailing complex of symptoms. If the body is predisposed to allergies, then its manifestations cannot be limited to a certain area, the entire body as a whole is involved in the process.
[ Allergies: symptoms and their impact on the body
The weakening of the body, burdened with a hereditary predisposition to allergies, leads to the fact that the mildest form of allergy can lead to the most serious consequences.
If the body's defenses are weak, then the allergy symptoms are expressed vividly, with itching and reddening of body parts, with the appearance of a small rash or blisters. Blisters and bubbles should be distinguished. Bubbles that appear on the skin contain liquid, and blisters consist entirely of a skin elevation, without liquid. In allergic skin reactions, blisters mainly occur.
Skin itching makes you scratch the affected areas, thereby, pustular infection gets into the small cracks that form during scratching, and in this situation, blisters can join in. The interaction of these symptoms leads to the skin starting to dry out, peel and quickly become covered with a crust, which easily cracks with any movement, causing pain.
Skin reactions are accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, making breathing difficult. Swelling creates a high-pressure area, which not only complicates breathing, but also leads to headaches. Headaches, skin itching, and problems with the gastrointestinal tract, which can be accompanied by food or drug allergies, all lead to nervous exhaustion and the development of depression.
Allergy symptoms accumulate and string one on another. At the same time, the speed of development of allergy directly depends on both the strength of the allergen and the susceptibility of the organism. For example, a bee or wasp sting, with high allergic sensitivity, can lead to the immediate development of anaphylactic shock and the onset of death within 10 minutes. With the same degree of susceptibility, the same organism will give a less severe allergic reaction, for example, to flower pollen. Despite the fact that each manifestation of allergy has strictly individual characteristics, it is still possible to predict the process of its development and have time to anticipate complex symptomatic manifestations.
What to do if there are allergy symptoms?
First, analyze the situation and determine at what point the first signs were noticed that prompted the idea that it was an allergy that you are experiencing symptoms of. Listen to your body and understand what provoked such a violent reaction on its part. When going to see an allergist, which needs to be done as soon as possible, it is worth talking to your parents or close relatives in order to find out your hereditary predisposition to allergic reactions. If this is the first time you are experiencing this situation, then it will be very useful to know your hereditary characteristics. Complete a full course of allergological examination at the time the allergen is detected.
Treating allergies is difficult, but the effectiveness of treatment and the frequency of relapses will depend only on the patient. Keeping food diaries, being well informed about your health and the allergens that can undermine it, accurately indicating the sources of allergies during medical interventions, strictly following a diet and a course of prescribed medications - this is a list of the main measures that should be followed constantly. Allergy symptoms will not reduce on their own, they must be fought or directed at all efforts, using all possible means and methods, in order to prevent their occurrence.