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Signs & Symptoms of Chocolate Allergies

Chocolate is something everyone tries at least once in their life. It can be found in breakfast foods, snacks, dinners and most commonly, desserts. For people who are allergic to chocolate, though, it isn't a food that brings a smile to their face. The important thing to note is what happens if chocolate is ingested and it triggers an allergic reaction, and how to treat the aftermath.

  1. Headache

    • If after eating chocolate a person starts to complain of a piercing headache, an allergic reaction may be to blame. Caffeine is highly prevalent in chocolate and is sometimes what leads to a headache. Just because a person gets a headache after consuming chocolate doesn't necessarily mean that they are allergic to it, but it does mean that there may be a need for some additional investigating.

    Hives

    • Some people after taking a bite of, or even touching, chocolate will break out in hives. Usually, the hives start on the face and neck, and then proceed to travel to other areas of the body, like the arms, stomach and legs. The best thing to do if this happens, is to give the person a dose of Benadryl and contact a physician.

    Difficulty breathing

    • Some people are severely allergic to chocolate, and in those cases they actually have problems breathing after consuming it. This may trigger anaphylaxis, which is an allergic reaction that involves two or more systems in the body and can actually lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be life-threatening. If this happens once, it is best to avoid chocolate all together.

    Heartburn

    • A mild symptom of a chocolate allergy is heartburn. Many times there is another ingredient in the chocolate that causes this, not actually the cocoa. The best thing to do to help combat heartburn is to take an over-the-counter medicine, like Tums, to help offset the burning feeling. For many people, heartburn isn't a problematic enough side effect to make them abstain from eating chocolate.

    Confusion and Irritability

    • A person may actually become confused or irritable as a sign of a chocolate allergy. This is due to the fact that cacao beans contain theobromine, which actually stimulates the nervous system and sometimes increases the heart rate. It can actually cause a person to feel very unsettled, so if this happens, it would probably be best to avoid chocolate.

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