Most people develop allergies to certain substances in childhood. In principle, anyone can develop an allergy at any stage of their life, regardless of age, gender or skin colour.

Many people who experience allergic reactions later in life already had this allergy in childhood but do not remember it. Many allergies can disappear temporarily in adolescence and reappear later in adult life. A runny nose or skin reaction is often not associated with an allergy.

However, even people who never had allergic symptoms in childhood can suddenly develop allergic reactions as adults. The theory is that people can develop allergies to certain substances with which they had little or no contact in childhood. The development of an allergy in adults is usually associated with a change of location or a major change at home. If you move to a new neighbourhood, there will be other types of pollen with which you previously had no contact. It can even take several years before the first symptoms of a new allergy appear.

The symptoms of an allergic reaction are the same at any age. They can occur anywhere in the body. Typical symptoms appear in the nose, sinuses, throat, eyes, skin, lungs or stomach. An allergy test by a doctor can show whether allergic reactions are involved. In most cases, over-the-counter medication is sufficient to treat the symptoms. For severe allergies, a doctor-prescribed medicine or even immunotherapy may be necessary.

Food allergies can also develop later in life. The most common allergies are to nuts, fish and seafood. While food allergies in children often disappear as they grow up, food allergies that develop later usually persist.

Food allergies are characterised by breathing difficulties, swollen throat, rapid pulse, dizziness, unconsciousness and shock.