Allergic Reactions and Their Medical Symptoms

Symptoms of allergic reactions can be localized (meaning they occur in a particular spot on the body) or generalized (meaning they occur on a larger portion of the body). The diagnosis of allergies is based on history of medical symptoms and in some cases additional allergy testing.

Based on the medical diagnosis, your doctor will recommend specific treatment to minimize the frequency and severity of your allergic reactions. In some cases, as with a food or drug allergy, you can avoid the offending allergen. For allergic reactions to pollen, dust mites, house mold or dander, avoiding the allergen can be difficult. You may be prescribed specific drugs to treat your symptoms, but you can also take steps on your own to control your allergy.

The medical symptoms of hay fever can make life miserable, and when combined with severe asthma, they can be life threatening. The Allergy Treatment Tool is a decision support tool designed to help you understand the treatment options that suit your condition and possible side effects.

This section is divided into multiple articles, covering topics such as common allergy symptoms and improving air quality, with each listed in the menu to the left. To research other allergy or health topics, please use the morefocus search tool, or see the related topics listed to the left.