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Often it's easy to recognize a food allergy when you have a reaction often over the course of a week. At lest that way you know it's something that's going into your system on a regular basis.

However, allergies are not always that easily diagnosed.

Especially if it's a certain food that may only be eaten on occasion.

Perhaps even a few years may go by without eating the same food, and a bad reaction a few years previous might be forgotten or perhaps blamed on something else.

Such was the case with me when after having a few drinks with friends many years ago, I happened to have a dinner with clam chowder on the menu. I was violently ill within a few hours and also into the next day and wrote it off to drinking too much.

However, a few years later I had a pasta sauce that had clams in it and again was ill with severe flu-like symptoms. It was only after the second episode that I realized I was allergic to clams. Or actually, all shell-fish.

The symptoms I had were dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea. I have since never eaten shell fish, because I'm certain the result will always be the same. It was really not that big a loss, because I never was a big fan of sea-food. That was why I never realized I had a problem for a few years.

There are several other ways to tell if an adult is suffering from an allergy. Some of the more common signs are patches of redness on the skin surface or possibility even hives.

There may be itching involved as well and often it's the hives or red patches that will itch.

More serious indicators might be swelling. This can happen to the lips or eye area, and can also happen to the throat.

In that event, the throat will feel tight and because of the restricted air-flow, wheezing and the need to fight for breath may result.

Not everyone is as fortunate as I was and are able to pin-point their allergy quite so easily.

Often it will take a series of tests to determine what is causing the reaction.

This might involve blood testing, a food challenge test or possibly an elimination diet that often will narrow down the search.

Regardless, allergies should be taken seriously and at the first of one of the many symptoms, medical assistance should be sought.

Learn more about this author, Ray Fauteux.
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