Symptoms and Diagnosis
By Daniel More, MD, About.com Guide
Symptoms of Allergies
Do you know what symptoms to look for to determine if you have allergies? The symptoms may not be so obvious, especially in a young child. Allergy symptoms can vary from the classic hay fever symptoms of sneezing and itchy eyes, to a stubborn, itchy rash, to asthma symptoms such as wheezing and coughing. Often, it can be difficult to distinguish a lingering cold from allergy symptoms. Learn about the various symptoms that suggest that you might have allergies.
- Do I Have Allergies?
- Signs of Allergies in Children
- Is It a Cold, or Is It Allergies?
- Hay Fever Symptoms
- Sneezing
- Runny Nose
- Itchy Eyes
- Dark Circles Under the Eyes
- Can't Smell or Taste
- Sore Throats and Allergies
- Post Nasal Drip
- Sinus Infection Symptoms
- Symptoms of Asthma
- Coughing
- Itching
- Swelling of Face, Tongue and Lips (Angioedema)
- Eczema Symptoms
- Eyelid Rashes
- Blood in Baby's Stool
- Food Allergy Symptoms
Diagnosis of Allergies
The diagnosis of allergy is made in various ways, and most often is made based solely on a person's symptoms. However, allergy testing is critical to the diagnosis of allergies. Skin testing remains the test of choice for the diagnosis of allergies, although blood tests are becoming more popular. Learn about how various allergic diseases are diagnosed, and how allergy testing is done.
- How Allergies are Diagnosed
- Seeing An Allergist
- Testing for Allergies
- Watch Skin Testing Being Performed
- When To Test Your Child For Allergies
- Does Skin Testing Hurt?
- Patch Testing for Contact Dermatitis
- Asthma Diagnosis
- Methacholine Challenge for Asthma
- Diagnosing Food Allergies
- Bee Sting Allergy Diagnosis
- Types of Allergy Testing to Avoid
Specific Allergic Diseases
Once the diagnosis of a particular allergic disease is made, it's important to learn all about the disease. Find out all about specific allergic diseases, from symptoms, to diagnosis, to treatment of these common medical conditions.
- Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
- Allergic Conjunctivitis
- Asthma
- Exercise Induced Asthma
- Chronic Cough
- Vocal Cord Dysfunction
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
- Urticaria and Angioedema (Hives and Swelling)
- Contact Dermatitis
- Sinusitis (Sinus Infections)
- Nasal Polyps
- Non-Allergic Rhinitis
- Food Allergies
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Drug Allergies
- Latex Allergy
- Bee Sting (Venom) Allergy
- Mosquito Allergy
- Anaphylaxis
- Chemical Allergy (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome)
Unusual Allergies
People are pretty familiar with allergies to foods, pets, medicines and bee stings. But there are a wide array of unusual allergies that you've probably never heard of, or even considered. Find out about some unusual things that people are allergic to -- it may help you figure out what could be triggering your own symptoms.
