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Allergy sufferers - those who get a runny nose or itchy eyes when exposed to ragweed or cats - know it requires constant vigilance when it comes to keeping their symptoms at bay.

But parents whose children have severe food allergies, constant vigilance brings one a whole new meaning when without it, exposure to certain foods means the child could suffer from a deadly, or anaphylaxis, reaction.

Anaphylaxis is a medical term that means "a life-threatening reaction" and represents the most severe type of allergy, said Beatrice Povolo, director of programs and services at Anaphylaxis Canada.

"Seasonal allergies, like pollen and dust, people can take medication for that and while it's uncomfortable, it's not life-threatening," she said. "When we're talking about severe allergic reactions to things like food or medication, that's when it can cause systems within the body to shut down."

These can include the upper and lower respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. Anaphylaxis reactions can also produce rashes, hives and a variety of other symptoms.

"The most life-threatening would be when your airway is blocked, swells and you lose the ability to breathe," Povolo said. "You can also have a sudden drop in blood pressure, which can also cause a fatal reaction."

The top three causes of anaphylaxis reactions are food allergies, insect stings and medication. Unfortunately, many people don't realize they have an allergy until, in the case of food, it's ingested for the first time.

"It's scary from that perspective because until then you just don't know," she said.

Toronto mother Angela Simo Brown knows just how scary it is after her daughter Brigit had her first anaphylaxis reaction to eggs at eight months old, despite Brigit eating them twice before without any trouble.

"My daughter was beet red from head to toe with hives all over her mouth and was glassy-eyed so I rushed her to the hospital," she said.

Once there, tests revealed Brigit had life-threatening allergies to eggs, nuts and peanuts.

When Simo Brown had her second child, son Garrett, she kept him away from the top allergen foods until he was tested.

Top allergen foods, Povolo said, include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (which are not actually nuts but legumes), fish, shellfish, soya, sesame seed, wheat and a food additive called sulphite.

"Of the nine foods listed, they make up over 90 per cent of the reactions ... and for that reason they must be labeled on foods," she said.

Povolo said while most people know about peanut allergies, in actuality, the most common food allergy for adults is shellfish and in young children it's milk and eggs.

"Shellfish allergy impacts about two per cent of the population and peanut is actually only one per cent," she said.

While the exact reasons for severe allergies are unknown, genetics may play a part.

"You could be born with it, it could also happen later in life. We're seeing more and more studies now that shows adults acquiring allergies later in life," she said.

Some kids grow out of their allergies, which can be discovered through routine and necessary visits to an allergist.

Simo Brown's daughter Brigit outgrew the egg allergy by age five and tree nuts by age seven. Now at age nine, she still has the peanut allergy and Garrett, now seven, is still allergic to peanuts and tree nuts as well as having asthma.

Povolo said it's crucial for kids who are at risk for anaphylaxis to be protected in the various environments they encounter such as at school, at friends' homes and restaurants.

Parents and children themselves must be diligent in avoiding the food they are allergic to, to always ask questions and when in doubt, don't eat the item, she said.

Povolo also said children should always carry an EpiPen, an auto-injector that contains a dose of epinephrine (or adrenalin), or a Twinject, which contains two doses, that will buy allergy suffers some time until they can get to a hospital.

"It helps to alleviate the reaction but you have to seek medical attention immediately," she said.

If you suspect your child is having an allergic reaction, an EpiPen should be injected into the outer thigh. People close to children with severe food allergies such as daycare providers or teachers, should have access to and know how to administer the life-saving medication.

Simo Brown said she has been proactive in educating herself, her children and others around her children to keep her kids safe. But besides making sure they are not exposed to food allergens, there are other anxieties.

She said her kids often feel different or are left out of social situations. She suggested other parents with children with severe allergies should recognize and address those feelings.

Povolo said severe allergies can be extremely stressful and scary but it's important to know it is manageable and children can otherwise lead a normal and healthy life.