Late one night, the Changxindian Emergency Station of the Beijing 120 Fengtai Emergency Center received an emergency dispatch concerning an adult woman who had suddenly developed severe difficulty breathing. Her condition was critical and immediate assistance was required. The ambulance team responded without delay. By assessing the likely cause in advance and providing standardized on-site care, the team successfully addressed the life-threatening risk posed by a food allergy.

While en route, physician Shen Baili promptly contacted the patient's family, asking detailed questions about the onset of symptoms, what the patient had eaten, and her medical history. He also provided remote guidance on initial care, helping to narrow down the likely cause. Driver Zhang Haijun drove steadily but swiftly, bringing the team to the scene in a short time.

On arrival, the team immediately assessed the patient, who reported a pronounced foreign-body sensation in her throat, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing. Taking into account what she had eaten before the symptoms began, the responders suspected food-allergy-induced swelling of the throat, with a high risk of airway obstruction. Nurse Yu Tao promptly administered oxygen, while stretcher attendant Wang Yunhu helped the patient sit upright and loosened her collar to ease breathing. Following rapid and effective intervention at the scene, her breathing improved markedly during transport and her vital signs gradually stabilized. She was safely taken to hospital for further treatment.

Shen Baili explained that throat swelling can be a sign of a severe food allergy. It can develop rapidly and may cause the airway to close within a short time, posing a threat to life. People often have difficulty distinguishing mild from severe food allergies, or telling a food allergy apart from food intolerance. Mild food allergies commonly cause an itchy rash, swelling of the lips, or gastrointestinal discomfort. Severe reactions often occur within minutes to two hours after eating an allergen and may cause throat tightness, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, palpitations, and dizziness, and can even trigger anaphylactic shock. Food intolerance is different from food allergy and generally does not cause life-threatening reactions such as shock, so the two should be distinguished.

Beijing 120 reminds the public that people with confirmed food allergies should strictly avoid trigger foods, inform restaurant staff of their allergies when dining out, and carry emergency medication as directed by their healthcare provider. If high-risk symptoms such as throat swelling, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing occur, call 120 immediately to avoid missing the critical window for treatment.