The following symptoms and complaints may indicate a pseudoallergy:
- Pruritus* (itching).
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Contact dermatitis or contact eczema (redness* and swelling of the skin, pruritus (itching), burning, development of small vesicles, scaling).
- Cough
- Sneezing (sneezing fits), rhinitis (running nose, runny nose).
- Nasal congestion
- Stuffy nose*
- Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (symptomatic hypersensitivity reaction of the nose, inflammation of the nasal mucosa).
- Cephalgia (headache)
- Fever
- Nausea (nausea)/vomiting
- Diarrhea* (diarrhea)
- Constipation (constipation)
- Abdominal pain
- Meteorism* (flatulence)
- Glottic edema (swelling of the larynx)
- Anaphylactic shock – most severe form of allergic reaction that affects the whole body and can lead to cardiovascular arrest.
- Urticaria (hives)
- Angioedema (Quincke’s edema) – massive swelling, especially of the lips, eyelids, or tongue, due to an allergic reaction or as a sign of a C1 esterase inhibitor defect
- Circulatory reactions such as tachycardia* (heartbeat too fast: > 100 beats per minute) and/or hypotension (blood pressure too low)
- Atopic eczema (neurodermatitis)
- Bronchial asthma
- Polyposis nasi – benign growths of the nasal mucosa, nasal polyps.
* Symptoms in wine intolerance (in a cross-sectional study in a wine town (Mainz), about 7% of all people reported wine intolerance, especially after drinking red wine; people with wine intolerance also more often report intolerance to beer and/ or alcohol in general).
In contrast to a true allergy, a reaction can already occur upon first contact with the food, depending on the dose. Thus, small amounts of histamine-releasing substances or histamine-containing foods can be tolerated without symptoms occurring. With increasing intake/quantity of histamine-releasing substances or ingested histamine, the severity of symptoms increases. Prior sensitization is not necessary. Addition effects are also common in pseudoallergy after physical exertion and psychological stress.
