Symptoms of a food allergy can affect any part of the body, including different parts of the body at the same time.

Common symptoms of a food allergy include:

· feeling dizzy or lightheaded
· itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
· swelling of the lips, face and eyes (angioedema)
· coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice
· sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose
· feeling sick or being sick
· tummy pain
· diarrhoea

You may get symptoms straight after eating the food you're allergic to, or days later.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis happen very quickly.

They usually start within minutes of coming into contact with something you're allergic to, such as a food, medicine or insect sting.

Symptoms include:

· swelling of your throat and tongue
· difficulty breathing or breathing very fast
· difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice
· wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing
· feeling tired or confused
· feeling faint, dizzy or fainting
· skin that feels cold to the touch
· blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet

You may also have a rash that's swollen, raised or itchy.

· your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
· you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
· your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
· your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
· you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
· someone faints and cannot be woken up
· a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised or itchy.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction:

1. Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector.

2. Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction.

3. Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side).

4. If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin.

5. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a 2nd adrenaline auto-injector.

Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better.