EpiPen

Below, you will find some of the most common triggers and how to avoid them

Fish

Food4

In Canada, the most common allergens in food are:

Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds
Eggs
Eggs
Tree nuts
Tree nuts
Fish
Fish
Sulphites
Sulphites
Peanuts
Peanuts
Milk
Milk
Soy
Soy
Mustard
Mustard
Wheat_triticale
Wheat & triticale
Crustaceans & molluscs
Crustaceans & molluscs
Medication

Medication5

Certain medications are more likely to produce allergic reactions than others. The most common are:

  1. Antibiotics, such as penicillin
  2. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen
  3. Anticonvulsants
  4. Monoclonal antibody therapy
  5. Chemotherapy
Latex

Latex6

Natural rubber latex is used to make some gloves, condoms, balloons, rubber bands, erasers and toys. Latex allergy occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to proteins found in natural rubber latex. In some individuals, latex allergy can trigger a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.

Insets

Insect stings/bites7

Most serious reactions are caused by five types of insects:

Fire ants
Fire ants
Hornets
Hornets
Paper wasps
Paper wasps
Yellow jackets
Yellow jackets
Honeybees
Honeybees
Bumblebees
Bumblebees
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes
Black flies
Black flies
Excerise

Exercise8

Exercise (for some individuals, exercise alone triggers a reaction within 45 minutes to an hour; for others, consuming a specific food up to a few hours before or after exercising leads to a reaction)

Unknown causes

Unknown causes8

Unknown causes (also known as idiopathic anaphylaxis, when no cause can be identified)

References:

  1. MedlinePlus. Allergic reactions. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000005.htm. Accessed on: 09 May 2024.
  2. MedlinePlus. Allergies. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000812.htm. Accessed on: 09 May 2024.
  3. Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, et al. Anaphylaxis. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):54.
  4. Allergens and gluten sources labelling. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-allergies-intolerances/avoiding-allergens-food/allergen-labelling.html. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
  5. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Medication Allergy Defined. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/allergy,-asthma-immunology-glossary/medication-allergy-defined. Accessed on: 7 September 2024.
  6. Latex allergy defined. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/allergy,-asthma-immunology-glossary/latex-allergy-defined
  7. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Stinging insect allergy defined. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/allergy,-asthma-immunology-glossary/stinging-insect-allergy-defined. Accessed on 22 April 2024.
  8. Non-food allergens. Available at https://www.foodallergycanada.ca/food-allergy-basics/food-allergies-101/what-are-food-allergies/non-food-allergens/. Accessed on 27 May 2024< />