Stomach allergies, often confused with food intolerances, manifest in various ways. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe reactions requiring immediate medical attention. It's crucial to differentiate between a true allergy (an immune system response) and an intolerance (a digestive issue).
Common Symptoms of Stomach Allergies:
Several symptoms can indicate a stomach allergy, and these can overlap with food intolerances. Common gastrointestinal symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain: This can range from mild cramps to severe, sharp pain.
- Diarrhea: Frequent, loose stools are a common symptom.
- Nausea and vomiting: Feeling sick to the stomach and throwing up.
- Bloating and gas: Excessive gas and a feeling of fullness.
- Constipation: In some cases, the opposite of diarrhea can occur.
Beyond gastrointestinal issues, other symptoms can occur, indicating a more severe allergic reaction:
- Hives (urticaria): Itchy, raised welts on the skin.
- Swelling: Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, and throat (angioedema) can be life-threatening.
- Itching or tingling: In and around the mouth and throat.
- Headaches and migraines: Often accompanying other symptoms.
In severe cases, a stomach allergy can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction requiring immediate medical attention. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
Differentiating Allergies and Intolerances:
While symptoms can overlap, allergies involve the immune system, while intolerances are digestive problems. Allergies typically cause a rapid reaction (minutes to hours) after consuming the allergen, while intolerances may take longer to manifest.
Sources:
- Allergy Stomach Pain: Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, fever, chills. Dehydration is a serious risk. Usually, there is no specific treatment.
- Mayo Clinic (Food allergy): Lists symptoms such as tingling or itching in the mouth, hives, itching, eczema, swelling of lips, face, tongue, throat, and belly pain.
- Mayo Clinic (Peanut allergy): Mentions digestive problems like diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and tightening of the throat.
- NHS (Food allergy): Explains that food allergies differ from intolerances, which cause symptoms such as bloating and tummy pain.
- NHS (Food intolerance): Lists diarrhea, bloating, farting, tummy pain, headache, tiredness, and nausea as possible symptoms.
- Cleveland Clinic (Food intolerance): Lists abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, bloating, headaches, heartburn, nausea, and upset stomach.
- Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (Food intolerance): Highlights gut issues like bloating, gas, IBS, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain.
- ACAAI (Egg Allergy): Notes that stomach pains and rashes can be symptoms.
- ACAAI (Wheat & Gluten Allergy): Mentions hives, rashes, stomachaches, and stuffy noses as potential symptoms.
- Coastal Allergy Asthma (Allergy Gastroenteritis): Lists diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and headaches as symptoms.
- Badgut.org (Food Allergy vs. Intolerance): Notes that both conditions can share symptoms like cramps, upset stomach, diarrhea, skin rash, and headaches.
