FACT: The severity of an allergic reaction is unpredictable. Reactions can range from mild to severe and can vary from person to person as well as from one reaction to the next in the same individual.
Different factors, called co-factors, can lower the threshold at which one reacts. These include asthma, general health at the time the food was eaten, alcohol, medication, and exercise.
Bottom line: Allergic reactions are serious, and the severity can be different each time. It is important to pay attention to early symptoms, even if they seem mild, especially if you have had a reaction in the past.
Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction so that you can give life-saving epinephrine early. Check out our reaction signs and symptoms page.