Anaphylaxis can manifest itself in the beginning as mild or moderate symptoms. For example, it may begin with severe itching of the eyes or face and within minutes progresses to more serious symptoms, including swelling (which could result in difficulty swallowing and breathing); abdominal pain; cramps; vomiting; diarrhea; hives; and angioedema (hives in the throat). Mental confusion or dizziness also may be symptoms, since anaphylaxis causes a quick drop in blood pressure.

Helpful Resources: Breakdown of Allergy Symptoms This site is a great place to go to learn about the various symptoms of allergies. One of the best part of this site is that it breaks symptoms down by where the symptom occurs, whether it is your nose, mouth, eyes, etc. Common Allergy Symptoms This site discusses some of the common symptoms of allergies, why they occur, and what you can do to ensure that you are not going to suffer from these symptoms, or severe reactions to allergies. Allergy Symptoms This is a great site for learning about the different allergy signs and symptoms for various allergens. It breaks things down into specific types of symptoms and what to expect with each of them. All About Allergies This is a blog where you can ask a nurse questions about your allergy symptoms. It is a question answer set up where you can learn all you want to know about allergy symptoms from a professional. Mayo Clinic This is a Mayo Clinic site that discusses allergy symptoms, and how to prevent them for a better, happier life no matter what the season. There are lots of links for in-depth info about allergy symptoms. Allergy Symptom Shots This is a great site for learning about using shots and using them as a treatment for the symptoms of allergies. It discusses what allergy symptoms shots can help, and which they can not. Allergy Symptoms This site is a community forum blog that discusses all aspects of allergies, including allergy symptoms and what the best forms of treatment for these symptoms is. There are a bunch of articles about allergies you can peruse. Yahoo Health: Allergies This is a site for yahoo health that discusses allergies, the symptoms, and treatment options for the various allergy symptoms you may experience. You can click on a link just about symptoms and learn all about them. Allergy symptoms This site tells you what the common symptoms of allergies are in adults, and what the common symptoms of allergies are in children, and how their product can treat the symptoms of allergies. Children Food Allergies This site tells you what you need to know about food allergy symptoms in children. This site is useful if you are trying to determine if your baby is allergic to something you are feeding them, and what you should do about it.

If you are suffering from a severe allergic reaction, usually a high dosage shot and continued medication for a few weeks after are needed. Epi-pens, emergency room visits, etc. are all used for this category of allergy symptoms.

Second, regions or areas where symptoms manifest:

As you can see there are three categories of allergy symptoms, however, usually symptoms occur in a few specific regions of the body: the nose, the eyes, the skin. Let's take a look at the specific symptoms for these regions:

Nose symptoms

What causes nose symptoms:

When you manifest your symptoms for allergies from the nose it is often referred to as allergic rhinitis. This particular allergic manifestation is made up of a collection of symptoms, predominantly caused by airborne particles of dust, dander, or plant pollens in people who are allergic to these substances. Allergic rhinitis is commonly called hay fever. Allergy to pollen, mold, dander, dust are the main causes of nose symptoms, but non-allergic problems can cause similar symptoms.

How it manifests:

Mucus, nasal discharge, ear infection, sinus infection, cough, congestion, sore throat, sneezing.

Nasal symptoms are usually in the form of some sort of nasal discharge. Nasal discharges are common, but rarely serious. Drainage from inflamed or infected sinuses may be thick or discolored, and look worse than it actually is. Another consequence of this nasal discharge is that the excess mucus production may run down the back of your throat, and cause a cough in addition to congestion and stuffy nose. This can also lead to a sore throat caused by the excessive mucus drainage. These allergy symptoms can be complicated even further if the mucus drainage plugs up the eustachian tube between the nose and the ear. The result being an ear infection and pain, or in some cases a sinus infection and pain in the sinus as well.

Sternutation is another symptom of allergies. This is just another name for sneezing. Sneezing is caused by irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose or throat. It can be very annoying and uncomfortable, but is generally not a sign of a serious problem.

Skin Symptoms

What causes skin allergy symptoms:

Basically some allergies present or manifest themselves on the skin rather than other areas of the body, this is called angiodema. Angioedema is usually the result of an allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction to any number of things. It is a result of the release of histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream, causing the vessels and tissues to swell.

The body releases histamine when the immune system detects a foreign substance called an allergen. So, what allergens usually illicit this response? Well, some medications can cause this, but that differs from person to person. Many food allergies manifest themselves as angiodema. Foods such as berries, shellfish, fish, nuts, eggs, and milk may cause this. Pollen can cause this if you are more than mildly allergic. Animal dander is a big contributor to this. Insect bites and stings can also cause angiodema as an allergic reaction.

The specific allergies that may cause skin symptoms of contact dermatitis include: Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, as well as various other plants. Nickel or other metals can create this reaction. Medications especially antibiotics, and then especially those applied to the surface of the skin (topical). Various other things including topical anesthetics, rubber, make-up, cosmetics, fabrics and clothing, detergents, solvents, adhesives, perfumes and fragrances. There are also a few airborne allergens, such as ragweed or insecticide spray, that can cause contact dermatitis.

How it manifests:

Angiodema, contact dermatitis, urticaria.

Angioedema is a swelling similar to urticaria, another name for hives, but the swelling is beneath the skin rather than on the surface. Many times these types of swellings are called welts. The welts usually occur around the eyes and lips most predominantly. They may also be found on the hands, feet, and throat.

Swelling around local areas can be causes by inflamed mast cell tissues.

Hives are on the surface of the skin and manifest themselves when your body is protecting itself from allergens by releasing histamines.

Contact dermatitis is another symptom of allergies. It is an inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritating substance. So, for example, poison oak could cause this reaction.

Irritant dermatitis is a type of contact dermatitis, in fact it is the most common type of contact dermatitis. This is the name for inflammation resulting from contact with acids, alkaline materials such as soaps and detergents, solvents, or other chemicals. The reaction usually resembles a burn, and can be quite painful.

Another form of contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to a material to which the person has become hypersensitive or allergic, such as latex. The skin inflammation varies from mild irritation and redness to open sores, depending on the type of irritant, the body part affected, and the sensitivity of the individual.

Hives are raised, often itchy, red welts on the surface of the skin. They are usually an allergic reaction to food or medicine. They are more common in people who have other allergies like hay fever.

Eye Symptoms

What causes eye allergy symptoms:

Hay fever and conjunctivitis usually have eye symptoms as a part of the way the allergy manifests itself.

How it manifests:

Dry eyes, itchy eyes, burning, scratchy eyes, white mucus, bumps on lids.

Let's take a closer look at these symptoms: Dry eyes are caused by a lack of tears. Tears are necessary for the normal lubrication of your eyes and to wash away particles and foreign bodies. Sometimes, in order to protect the body, your tear glands will stop producing tears as the chemicals in the histamines prevent this from happening, or slow down the process. Dry eyes often lead the feelings of burning, scratching, or stinging sensation. You may also have strained or tired eyes.

When your symptoms become more severe, such as a more severe allergic reaction this may turn into discharge coming from the eye that is burning, itching, or drainage from the eye of any substance other than tears.

Sometimes burning and itching eyes are due to environmental pollutants or things other than allergies, such as secondhand cigarette smoke. However, allergies, including seasonal allergies or hay fever, conjunctivitis or pink eye (a viral infection of the eye surface), also manifest through these symptoms.

Vernal conjunctivitis is a seasonal inflammation of the outer lining of the eyes, which is thought to be due to an allergic reaction. If your family has a strong history of allergies, you may want to check with a doctor, and have them check for this symptom. It is most common during the spring and summer. If you suffer this particular form of allergy symptom you will experience itchy, watery eyes. The underside of the eyelids may become rough and covered with bumps and a whitish mucus. Tissue around the cornea where the white of the eye and the cornea meet (limbus) may become rough and swollen. If this swelling and roughness moves over the cornea, it may cause scarring and decreased vision.

It is important to be aware of the symptoms of allergies so that you can treat them, properly diagnose them, and not suffer from some of the serious consequences that can result from the symptoms not being treated properly.