Allergies can result in a range of signs and symptoms. Some are easy to identify by the pattern of symptoms that invariably follows exposure to a particular substance; others are more subtle and may masquerade as other conditions. Here are some common clues that should lead you to suspect you may have an allergy.
- Patches of bumps or itchy, red skin that won’t go away
- Development of hives: intensely itchy skin eruptions that usually last for a few hours and move from one part of the body to another
- Repeated or chronic cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing and throat clearing, that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year
- Nose rubbing, sniffling, snorting, sneezing, or drippy nose
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and throat
- Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and other respiratory symptoms
- Unexplained bouts of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and other intestinal symptoms
