1. Anaphylactic Reactions
   This can occur instantly, in response to as little as a single bite of a particular substance, and it can be deadly. Symptoms may include swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat; dizziness; difficulty breathing; and vomiting and/or diarrhea. You may also have an asthma attack.
   
   Usually these reactions are provoked by peanuts, nuts, shellfish, eggs, or seeds. Although people who suffer from this type of reaction may avoid their own personal “danger foods,” they may find themselves eating one by mistake. One tragic story, for example, concerned a young woman who ordered chili at a diner and died twenty minutes later, not realizing that the restaurant’s chili recipe included peanut butter.
   
   Therefore, if you are prone to such a reaction, you need to recognize the early symptoms, such as tingling on the tongue and lips. The most effective treatment is a dose of the hormone epinephrine, which you can inject yourself from a device known as an EpiPen® or AnaKit. An antihistamine, such as Benadryl, may also be helpful. In fact, if you think you might suffer such a reaction, you should discuss precautions with your doctor immediately, and always have an EpiPen handy.
   
   In the event of an anaphylactic reaction, going to an emergency room might involve too long a delay. However, even if you have medicated yourself, you should always visit an emergency room after such an experience, because you might suffer a relapse.
   
   
2. Allergic Reactions
   These are not as strong as anaphylactic reactions, although there is some overlap between a mild anaphylactic reaction and a severe allergic response. Again, in these reactions, the lips generally swell and the bronchial tubes tighten. These reactions usually involve an overproduction of IgE, the antibody that sensitizes the mast cells to various substances.
   
   Sesame is a common trigger for such reactions. A person who is extremely sensitive might have an allergic reaction to, say, a hamburger that was fried in the same pan that had earlier been used to sauté fish in sesame oil.
   
   
3. Delayed Allergic Reactions
   These may either follow an immediate allergic reaction or occasionally occur in isolation six to 12 hours following an exposure.
   
   These delayed reactions are naturally harder to detect, particularly in children, who might have eaten the “danger food” at school or at a friend’s house. Sometimes, you might have a delayed reaction to a food during pollen season, when your allergy load is high and you already have lots of inflammatory chemicals in your bloodstream; whereas, you might eat the same food in the middle of winter and have no adverse reaction at all.
   
   The symptoms of delayed allergic reactions include skin rashes, asthma, stuffy nose, headache, irritability, nervousness, listlessness, and fatigue.
   
   

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