"A Little Bit Won't Hurt"

Wrong. This is one of the most common allergy misconceptions. For some people, even a little bit of an allergen can be deadly. When it comes to allergy severity, there is a range. Some people can ingest the allergen and experience more of a minimal reaction, an itchy tongue for example. Others might need an immediate shot of epinephrine just from cross contamination. This means even a little of the dust or oil from an allergen can cause anaphylaxis for some. For the latter, the statement “A little bit won’t hurt” could not be further from the truth. In fact, a little bit can be very deadly.

If you are newly diagnosed with an allergy or trying to understand the confusing allergy world as a friend or family member of someone who has severe food allergies, it is important to know that each person’s allergy is unique. It’s also important to understand that for some of us a little bit could really hurt; it might even kill.