Symptoms of Sulfur Allergies

Sulfites and sulfanomides are sulfur compounds that are used in foods and medicines. Sulfites are used primarily to preserve and increase storage life of foods like fruits and wine, while sulfanomides are to be found in some antibiotics, painkillers and diuretics. Some sites say that ingesting processed sulfur tablets can help a person reduce joint pains and help muscles before a run.

Statistics

• The Federal Drug Administration reports that 1 in every 100 people are sensitive to sulfites. 5 percent who have asthma would have a serious reaction to sulfites.

Difference

• Allergic reactions to sulfites display different symptoms than to sulfanomides. Sulfite sensitivities generally have more symptoms.

Sulfites

• The symptoms of sulfite allergies include a flushed face; coughing; wheezing; hay fever-like symptoms; tightness in chest; rashes; red itchy skin; hives; swelling of the throat, tongue, face (skin, eyes and lips); trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing; faintness; paleness; weakness; cramps; diarrhea; vomiting; drop in blood pressure; rapid heartbeat and loss of consciousness. Allergic shock rarely happens.

Sulfanomides

• Allergies to sulfanomides have the symptoms of mild to severe rashes. Sometimes allergic shock happens.

Warning

• Longer term symptoms involve photo sensitivity, liver and kidney damage which may lead to hepatitis and kidney failure, and blood problems where red and white blood cells may be reduced in numbers.