Final answer:
Food allergies can result in severe or fatal reactions, which is true. They can lead to a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which requires emergency medical treatment to prevent potentially fatal outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Food allergies can indeed result in severe or fatal reactions. This is a true statement. Food allergies trigger an immune response to substances in food that the body mistakenly treats as threats. In certain cases, they can lead to a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. During anaphylaxis, individuals may experience life-threatening symptoms such as a drastic drop in blood pressure, severe swelling obstructing the airway, and, if not immediately treated, can result in coma or death. Although anaphylaxis is rare, it requires emergency medical attention to prevent fatal outcomes.
An allergic reaction varies in severity—while some may experience mild reactions like hives or hay fever, others may endure systemic and perilous symptoms. A food allergy can prompt responses such as vomiting, diarrhea, itching, and swelling of the lips and mouth. More serious conditions may involve trouble breathing due to the immune system's overreaction to a normally harmless environmental protein.