Does anaphylaxis emergency treatment treat food allergy?

Food allergy is an immune response to a particular food. Most reactions are not anaphylaxis, but a severe reaction can cause breathing difficulty, throat or tongue swelling, widespread hives, vomiting, dizziness, or collapse. Emergency treatment is designed to act during that dangerous episode. It does not make the food safe to eat later, erase the allergy, or replace a longer-term avoidance and emergency plan.

If a person with food allergy develops signs of anaphylaxis, use their prescribed adrenaline auto-injector immediately and call emergency services. Keep them in a safe position and do not make them walk. Do not offer food or drink if swallowing is difficult or they are drowsy. Note what food was eaten and when symptoms began, if this does not delay treatment. Follow the emergency plan and stay with them until help arrives.

Seek emergency help for breathing trouble, throat tightness, voice changes, faintness, confusion, rapidly spreading hives, repeated vomiting, or sudden symptoms involving more than one body system after eating. A person should still be assessed after feeling better, since symptoms can return. A clinician can review the reaction and arrange allergy follow-up.

Ask which foods or ingredients to avoid, how to read labels, when to use adrenaline, how to teach others your emergency plan, and whether referral to an allergy specialist is appropriate.