Can you have an allergic reaction to alcohol just by smelling it?

Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
Updated on January 26, 2025
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People with alcohol allergies might also experience allergic reactions just from the smell of alcohol, which is related to individual physical constitutions. Generally, alcohol allergies occur after contact with alcohol or after consuming it. However, individuals with poor health and an allergic constitution might experience allergic reactions when exposed to the smell of alcohol, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. In such cases, it is advisable to immediately leave the environment where the alcohol smell is present and rest in a place with good air circulation and drink more water. If the symptoms do not improve, it is necessary to seek further medical treatment at a hospital. Regularly drinking more water and exercising appropriately to strengthen the physique is recommended, and if necessary, visiting a hospital to check for allergens might be needed.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
56sec home-news-image

Can you have an allergic reaction to alcohol just by smelling it?

People with alcohol allergies might also experience allergic reactions just from the smell of alcohol, which is related to individual physical constitutions. Generally, alcohol allergies occur after contact with alcohol or after consuming it. However, individuals with poor health and an allergic constitution might experience allergic reactions when exposed to the smell of alcohol, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. In such cases, it is advisable to immediately leave the environment where the alcohol smell is present and rest in a place with good air circulation and drink more water. If the symptoms do not improve, it is necessary to seek further medical treatment at a hospital. Regularly drinking more water and exercising appropriately to strengthen the physique is recommended, and if necessary, visiting a hospital to check for allergens might be needed.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
40sec home-news-image

How is allergic cough caused without allergens?

Allergic cough is a very common type of non-infectious cough, triggered by many factors. Generally, some patients may experience this cough due to exposure to certain harmful gases or irritants, while others might react to pollen, dust mites, or animal dander. Additionally, a portion of patients could be affected by the inhalation of cold air or due to genetic factors. Since it is an allergic cough, there must be triggering factors causing it. Therefore, for allergic cough, it is essential to eliminate the allergens and appropriately administer anti-allergy medications for symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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When is the best time to check for allergens in allergic asthma?

The best time to check for allergens in allergic asthma is still during an asthma attack. At this time, due to the body's strong immune response to external allergens, also referred to as a hypersensitive reaction, checking for allergens can likely yield some positive results. However, there are many methods for screening allergens, such as drawing blood to check for IgE antibodies, or using skin prick tests to assess reactions to different allergens. However, if it is during the acute phase of an asthma attack, it is recommended to use the blood drawing method, which is relatively safer. Using skin prick tests might exacerbate the patient's allergic reaction, and may even lead to an acute asthma attack, or severe asthmatic conditions. Therefore, there are significant considerations to be made when choosing different methods for allergen testing.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
1min 17sec home-news-image

Drug allergy symptoms

Drug allergies mainly manifest as skin itching, red rash, and papules; severe cases may experience ulceration, exfoliative dermatitis, in the respiratory system it may present as nasal congestion, breathing difficulties, and laryngeal edema; in the digestive system, patients may experience abdominal pain and diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by joint pain and swelling, immune dysfunction, and the occurrence of allergic purpura. Some drug allergies can cause neurological reactions, such as dizziness and headaches. When a drug allergy occurs, immediately stop using the suspected medication, and simultaneously take anti-allergy medications such as loratadine, cetirizine, or administer diphenhydramine via muscular injection. Oral intake of compound glycyrrhizin capsules may be considered. If there is laryngeal edema, it is crucial to seek prompt medical attention at a hospital, actively manage the allergy, and severe cases may require a tracheotomy for rescue. (Specific medication usage should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor, and medications should not be used without authorization.)

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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Alcohol allergy symptoms

If a patient is allergic to alcohol, the following symptoms may occur: the patient will feel itchy all over, their skin will turn red, and they may experience welts and rashes. Some patients may also experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, and even fainting, profuse sweating, and transient loss of consciousness. If a patient exhibits profuse sweating along with transient fainting and loss of consciousness, this indicates a severe condition that requires emergency medical treatment at a hospital. Anti-allergic measures should be taken to alleviate the allergy symptoms. Additionally, due to the allergy, the patient may experience a relative insufficiency in blood volume, necessitating fluid replenishment treatment. Therefore, patients with an alcohol allergy should avoid exposure to alcohol to prevent triggering allergic symptoms and endangering their lives. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)