Everything You Want to Learn About a Honey Allergy Is Described Below

An allergy occurs when the immune system of a person classifies a given substance as a foreign matter or threat to the body. A honey allergy is a common allergic reaction that affects both adults and children. Since honey is an end-product of pollen, nectar and bees, a few people are allergic to either the bee stings or honey ingredients. There are people who also react badly to royal jelly, propolis and beeswax. People who are at risk of catching this type of allergy get different symptoms. There are those who catch a serious anaphylactic shock which can be lethal if not dealt with quickly and properly. Others catch mild symptoms that go away on their own.

How a Honey Allergy Occurs

When a person consumes honey, their immune system recognizes it as potentially life threatening to the body. As a way to stop the believed threat from occurring, the immune system generates histamine and antibodies. This is what causes symptoms to occur all over the body. These signs can be severe or mild depending on how the body responds to the actions of the immune system. There are some people who suffer a honey allergy on their skin after applying this bee substance topically. Their skins develop hives and rashes. If your body reacts badly to honey, you should avoid it completely.

Signs to Expect

Numerous people suffer mildly after consuming honey or applying it topically. Some of the common mild signs they catch include a runny nose, a swollen tongue or lip, an itchy throat, skin rashes and hives, watery eyes and continuous sneezing. As aforementioned, some people suffer horrible side effects. Their symptoms include severe skin inflammation, excessive chest congestion and headaches. If a person who has suffered severely is not seen by a doctor, they may endure painful complications. Common complications include an anaphylactic shock, brain fog and a very weak immune system. Although the above are the common symptoms of honey allergy, some people do not develop all of them.

Diagnosis Treatment and Prevention

The first thing you should do after discovering that a child or an adult has a honey allergy is to rush them to the hospital. Mild signs can however be eliminated with over-the-counter antihistamines. A good example of this is diphenhydramine. Some of you know it as Benadryl. This is the most effective medication as it takes about fifteen minutes to alleviate the allergy symptoms. OTC drugs should be used in cases where the victim is known to have bee allergies. In addition, if a victim's illness seems mild, it can be arrested with OTC drugs. If signs persist, for more than one hour, a patient must see a doctor right away. If you suspect that a person has a chronic anaphylactic shock, let them see a doctor very quickly. Signs of this shock include fainting, convulsions, dizziness and shortness of breath. You should not use antihistamines on such a person. Take them to the hospital with whatever means, including calling an ambulance service. To prevent a honey allergy, you must avoid all types of foods and drinks that consist of honey by-products or honey. If you must take honey, ask your doctor if it is okay to consume antihistamines beforehand.