Which of the following lists describes symptoms of a food allergy?

• A. Swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, hives, itchy red skin
• B. Fever and chills
• C. Abdominal cramps and jaundice
• D. Shortness of breath and sneezing

Answer: (A)

Food allergy symptoms often show up in the skin and digestive system, and can include itching, hives, swelling, vomiting, and diarrhea. The listed combination—swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, hives, and itchy red skin—matches that typical pattern of an allergic reaction to food, where the body releases histamine causing skin changes and GI upset.

Fever and chills are more commonly tied to infections rather than allergies. Abdominal cramps with jaundice point to digestive or liver-related issues, not an allergic reaction to food. Shortness of breath can occur in severe allergic reactions, but sneezing is usually a symptom of nasal allergies rather than a direct sign of a food allergy, and the pairing here doesn’t fit the common set of food allergy symptoms.

So the first option best reflects the usual signs of a food allergy.