Say Allergies Clearly: Food, Medicine, Seasonal, and Emergency Details

This article teaches English communication for healthcare situations. It is not medical diagnosis or treatment advice. If you have rapid swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, tightness in the throat, trouble breathing, a hoarse voice, dizziness or fainting, or a rash with a drop in blood pressure, those are signs of anaphylaxis — call 911 right away, and use your epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) only if it has been prescribed to you and you've been trained to use it.

"Allergy" carries a specific weight in US medical settings. Drug allergies are entered permanently in your electronic chart and affect every future prescription. Food allergies affect meals and pre-anesthesia evaluations. Seasonal allergies (hay fever) affect daily comfort but are usually lower risk. Separating these three categories cleanly, and being precise about severity, is the heart of clear communication.

Core Vocabulary

Term	Meaning	Example
allergic to ...	having an allergy to	I'm allergic to penicillin.
allergy / allergies	allergy (noun)	I have several food allergies.
food allergy	allergy to a food	I have a peanut allergy.
drug allergy	allergy to a medication	List your drug allergies here.
seasonal allergies	pollen-related allergies	My seasonal allergies act up in spring.
hay fever	pollen allergy	I get bad hay fever every April.
reaction	an allergy event	I had a reaction to amoxicillin once.
mild reaction	minor symptoms	It was a mild reaction — just hives.
severe reaction	dangerous, whole-body symptoms	I had a severe reaction and went to the ER.
anaphylaxis	life-threatening allergic reaction	I have a history of anaphylaxis.
EpiPen / epinephrine auto-injector	emergency epinephrine pen	I carry an EpiPen with me.
swelling	puffiness	My face started swelling.
trouble breathing	dyspnea	I had trouble breathing.
antihistamine	allergy medication	I took an antihistamine.
cross-reactive	reacting to a related substance	I'm allergic to shellfish — am I cross-reactive to ...?
environmental	from the environment (e.g., dust, pets)	I have environmental allergies to dust mites and cats.

Must-Know Phrases

I'm allergic to [substance].
My reaction was [hives / swelling / trouble breathing / vomiting / anaphylaxis].
It was a [mild / moderate / severe] reaction.
I had to go to the ER / I was hospitalized for it.
I carry an EpiPen. / I don't carry an EpiPen.
I've never been formally tested for allergies.
I'm not sure if it's a true allergy or just a sensitivity.
The last time I had a reaction was [year / age].
I take [antihistamine, e.g., Zyrtec / Claritin] daily during pollen season.
I'm currently having an allergic reaction.
I think I'm having a severe allergic reaction — I need help. — for emergencies
Please update my chart — I'm allergic to [drug].

Awkward vs Natural Phrasing

Less natural	More natural
I have allergy peanut.	I'm allergic to peanuts. / I have a peanut allergy.
My body refuses penicillin.	I'm allergic to penicillin.
It is allergy season for me.	My seasonal allergies are bad right now.
My nose is running because of pollen.	I'm having a flare-up of seasonal allergies.
I almost died from shrimp.	I had a severe reaction to shrimp — I had to go to the ER.
I think it's a small allergy.	I had a mild reaction.

Situational Dialogue

Scenario 1: Filling out allergy history at check-in

Nurse: Do you have any drug allergies?

You: Yes, I'm allergic to penicillin. I broke out in hives and had some facial swelling when I took it as a child.

Nurse: Did you ever have trouble breathing or go to the ER?

You: I went to urgent care, but I didn't have trouble breathing. I'd call it moderate.

Nurse: I'll mark "penicillin — hives and facial swelling, moderate" in your chart.

Scenario 2: Calling 911 about a severe allergic reaction (emergency)

911: 911, what's your emergency?

You: I think I'm having a severe allergic reaction. I ate something with peanuts, my face is swelling, and I'm having trouble breathing. I'm at [address].

911: Do you have an EpiPen?

You: Yes, I'm using it now in my outer thigh.

911: Stay on the line. An ambulance is on the way.

⚠️ The dialogue above only demonstrates English phrasing. In real life, using an EpiPen requires a prescription and training from a clinician. This article does not teach when or how to inject.

Replaceable Sentence Templates

I'm allergic to [SUBSTANCE]. My reaction is [SYMPTOMS]. The severity is [mild / moderate / severe].
The last time I had a reaction was [TIME / AGE], and I [did / didn't] need emergency care.
I [carry / don't carry] an EpiPen, and I [have / haven't] been tested by an allergist.
During [pollen / cat / dust] season, I usually take [MEDICATION].
I think I'm having a reaction right now to [POSSIBLE TRIGGER]. My symptoms are [SYMPTOMS].

Practice

Say this in natural English: allergic to both penicillin and aspirin — penicillin causes a rash, aspirin causes stomach bleeding.
Say this in natural English: pollen allergies that are worst from March through May every year.
Say this in natural English (emergency wording): possibly having an allergic reaction right now — face swelling and a tight throat.

Reference Answers

I'm allergic to penicillin and aspirin. Penicillin gives me a rash, and aspirin causes stomach bleeding for me.
I have seasonal allergies — pollen. They're worst from March to May every year.
I think I'm having an allergic reaction. My face is starting to swell and my throat feels tight.

Copy-Ready Pre-Visit Summary

Drug allergies: Penicillin — hives + facial swelling, age 8, moderate (treated at urgent care)
Food allergies: Shrimp / shellfish — hives + lip swelling, severe; carry EpiPen
Environmental allergies: Dust mites, cats — runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes; mild
Seasonal allergies: March–May (tree pollen); take Zyrtec daily during peak season
Most recent reaction: Last spring — controlled with antihistamine, no ER visit
EpiPen: Yes, expires [date] — / No
Allergist evaluation: Last seen [date] / Never formally tested

A Note on Medical Boundaries

This article is for English communication practice only. It does not provide diagnosis, medication advice, or injection instructions. How to treat an allergy, whether you need an EpiPen, whether to do allergy testing, and when (if ever) it might be safe to re-try a food or drug you reacted to are decisions for a qualified clinician. If you or someone near you is having signs of a severe reaction — anaphylaxis: throat tightness, facial swelling, difficulty breathing, a change in voice, dizziness or fainting, or a widespread rash with low blood pressure — call 911 right away.