Symptoms of exercise-induced anaphylaxis can appear during or immediately after exercise. The types of symptoms vary depending on which of the two major forms of the condition a person experiences: classic or variant-type.

Classic exercise-induced anaphylaxis symptoms unfold in stages, with the stage of most serious symptoms lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours. Symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Severe itching (pruritus)
• Reddening of the skin
• Breathing difficulties
• Giant hives (including angioedema of the face, palms and soles)
• Blood-pressure drop (hypotension)
• Fainting (syncope)
• Choking
• Nausea and vomiting
• High-pitched noise during breathing (stridor)
• Vascular collapse
• Abdominal cramps
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Swelling of the face, tongue and hands
• Loss of consciousness
  

  

Variant-type exercise-induced anaphylaxis shares many of the same symptoms as the classic form, except giant hives typically are not observed. Instead, a person may exhibit small punctate skin lesions similar to those found in exercise-induced urticaria. Variant-type exercise-induced anaphylaxis can be as life-threatening as the classic form.

Symptoms of exercise-induced urticaria tend to be less serious, and include small, conical, solid elevations of the skin known as pruritic papules. These usually appear on the neck, upper trunk and upper arms and legs. However, hives may appear on any part of the body. In severe cases, angioedema may develop. An attack tends to last between 20 and 90 minutes. Other symptoms of this condition include:

• Pruritus
• Headache
• Palpitations (an awareness of a strong, fast, irregular, abnormal or "galloping" heartbeat)
• Abdominal cramps
• Swelling of the face, tongue or hands
• Diarrhea
• Sweating and flushing
• Bronchospasm
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

As with exercise-induced anaphylaxis, symptoms of exercise-induced urticaria can appear during or after exercise. Individuals who notice hives while they are exercising should stop the activity. If the hives persist for longer than 5 to 10 minutes, or if they are accompanied by other symptoms, the patient should contact their physician immediately.

Individuals who suspect that they are experiencing exercise-induced anaphylaxis should also stop exercising and seek immediate medical attention.