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STRANGER THINGS

From a swollen tongue to bright red bum… 7 strange signs you’re having an allergic reaction

An allergy is a reaction the body has to a particular substance or food

YOU know the classic signs of an allergic reaction.

Itchy skin, a rash, burning, tingling, hay fever symptoms if the pollen count is high.

 Many allergic reactions can cause itchy skin
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Many allergic reactions can cause itchy skinCredit: Getty - Contributor

But there are some other strange signs that could indicate an allergic reaction as well.

An allergy is a reaction the body has to a particular substance or food.

They are very common, affecting more than one in four people in the UK.

An allergic reaction is caused when the body's immune system reacts to something.

 Allergies can also make asthma symptoms worse
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Allergies can also make asthma symptoms worseCredit: Getty - Contributor

It is not always clear why this happens, but it is thought to be the body's way of defending itself.

Usual symptoms can include sneezing; runny or blocked nose; red, itchy and watery eyes; wheezing and coughing; a red, itchy rash; worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms; and tummy upset or vomiting if it's a food allergy.

Here's seven strange signs you are suffering an allergic reaction.

 A swollen tongue can be a reaction to protein in fruit and veg
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A swollen tongue can be a reaction to protein in fruit and vegCredit: Rex Features

1. A swollen tongue

It's not just pollen you need to watch out for if you suffer from hay fever.

Some fruits and vegetables contain proteins similar to pollen, meaning you can have an allergic reaction after eating them.

The most common sign of this is a swollen tongue.

It is called oral allergy syndrome and occurs when the immune system reacts to the protein in the food, according to

The condition affects up to one-third of allergy sufferers and can occur at anytime, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

 A condition called Baboon Syndrome can leave people with a bright red rash on their bum
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A condition called Baboon Syndrome can leave people with a bright red rash on their bumCredit: Getty - Contributor

2. A bright red bum

It sounds like it is made up, but Baboon Syndrome is actually a thing.

Some people exposed to certain metals, medications or plants may develop a bright red bum.

A red rash can appear on the bum, genitals and inner thighs.

Although itchy and painful, the condition is not normally serious.

Metals like mercury, gold and nickel can trigger this kind of reaction, according to a 2011 review in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.

Some studies have also found that oral antibiotics and antibacterials can also trigger the same reaction.

 An odd, itchy rash can be a sign of an allergy
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An odd, itchy rash can be a sign of an allergyCredit: Getty - Contributor

3. An odd rash

A rash is a classic sign of an allergic reaction, but sometimes it can look a little odd.

A 2004 case report in the journal of Dermatitis featured an 11-year-old boy who developed an itchy rash on his abdomen and under his wrist watch a week after he was fitted with braces.

The boy was actually allergic to the nickel in the braces, but the rash appeared on other parts of his body.

Nickel is a common metal to be allergic to and usually causes a red, itchy, bumpy rash.

 Some people develop skin growths after getting a tattoo
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Some people develop skin growths after getting a tattooCredit: Getty - Contributor

4. Skin growths

Sometimes, in very rare cases, skin growths can appear when we have an allergic reaction.

This is normally down to a foreign substance triggering an immune response in the skin.

It most commonly happens in people with tattoos.

University of Maryland researchers reported in 2008 a case of a 38-year-old man who developed a skin tumour one month after getting a tattoo.

In another study, published in 2010 in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, experts looked at eight people who had tattoo-related skin growths and found that red ink was the most likely culprit.

 People who are allergic to the sun can suffer reactions that look like burns
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People who are allergic to the sun can suffer reactions that look like burnsCredit: Getty - Contributor

5. Blisters and swollen skin

Some allergies can trigger a response that looks similar to a burn.

People who are allergic to the sun experience blisters, hives and swelling of the skin.

About ten to 20 percent of people in Europe, United States and Scandinavia suffer from a sun allergy, according to a German study in 2011.

The reaction is normally down to the UV rays, so may not be as harsh on days when the UV count is low.

 Three in ten Brits are left gasping for air after walking up a flight of stairs
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Three in ten Brits are left gasping for air after walking up a flight of stairsCredit: Getty - Contributor

6. Shortness of breath

You probably already know that some allergies can cause shortness of breath, especially if you have asthma.

But did you know onions can cause the same problem.

According to a recent report in the journal Respiratory Medicine Case Reports an onion farmer in Japan developed shortness of breath.

The man actually had allergy to a type of mould, called aspergillus niger, that was growing on the onion peels.

It can cause a condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which happens when the tiny air sacs in the lungs, known as alveoli, become inflamed.

When the man was not farming onions his symptoms went away.

7. Black spots

Some people develop black spots on the skin as well as a rash when they come into contact with poison ivy, according to a 2008 study in the journal Dermatitis.

Black deposits form on the skin due to a high amount of resin - an oily secretion from the plant - is exposed to air.

The spots eventually peeled off and did not cause a scar.


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