Which of the following lists are symptoms of an allergic reaction?

• A. Headache and sore throat only
• B. Shortness of breath with no other symptoms
• C. Itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing
• D. Dizziness and fainting

Answer: (C)

Allergic reactions commonly involve the eyes and airways, causing itching and irritation that lead to watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing. This pattern—itchy, watery eyes along with sneezing and coughing—reflects the way histamine release from an allergic response affects mucous membranes in the nose and eyes, producing those classic allergy symptoms. The other options aren’t as characteristic: headaches and sore throat can come from many illnesses, shortness of breath with no other signs could be due to asthma or other conditions, and dizziness or fainting points to circulation or balance issues rather than a typical allergic reaction. So the set of symptoms that best matches an allergic reaction is itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing.