Seafood Allergy

Do recipes containing shrimp, lobsters, or clams make your mouth water? Do you like tuna, scallops, squid, or crab? The majority of us do. However, some people cannot consume fish due to their bodies' reaction to the allergens in this food. This type of allergic reaction is known as a seafood allergy.

What is Seafood Allergy?

A seafood allergy occurs when the body's immune system misidentifies seafood as dangerous. Seafood can cause life-threatening reactions in people who are allergic to it. You may not be allergic to one type of seafood if you are allergic to another. 

See also: Latex Allergy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Types of seafood that can cause allergies

Allergies occur by an immune response to specific proteins found in meals. Allergic reactions can be brought on by:

• fish (with a backbone), including salmon, cod, mackerel, sardines, herring, anchovies, tuna, trout, haddock, John Dory, and eels

• shellfish (without a backbone), crustaceans, prawns/shrimps, lobster, crab, crayfish, yabbies

• Mollusks such as oysters, mussels, clams, octopus, squid, calamari, abalone, and sea slugs

Symptoms of seafood allergy

Most people who are allergic to seafood have mild symptoms such as:

• Swelling of the lips

• Hives

• Abdominal pain

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Tightening of the throat

But some people experience dangerous symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:

• difficulty breathing

• swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat

• hoarse voice, wheezing, or difficulty talking

• dizziness or collapsing due to a sudden drop in blood pressure

If you are experiencing any of these severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of seafood allergy usually occur within minutes; however, in some cases (mainly those allergic to oysters, abalone, squid, or prawns) may not appear for hours or even days. It can also happen after exercising.

Seafood Allergy Treatment

If you're already diagnosed with a seafood allergy, make sure to avoid seafood. Make sure to check the labels of food products that you purchase. It would help if you were extra careful when you dine out, as waiters do not always know the ingredients of the restaurant's dishes.

 

Suppose you have a seafood allergy and have already experienced a severe allergic reaction. In that case, your doctor will recommend you to carry an epinephrine auto-injector with you all the time. For emergencies, use Epinephrine when experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, tightness in the throat, and a weak pulse.

 

It would also be good to carry medications like over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines and corticosteroids to treat mild allergy symptoms. It is good to remember that there is no substitute for Epinephrine. It's the only medication that can treat life-threatening situations.

Shellfish Allergy Treatment

Your doctor or allergist may instruct you to treat a mild reaction to shellfish with medications such as antihistamines to reduce signs and symptoms. But if you have a severe allergic reaction to shellfish, you'll likely need an emergency injection of Epinephrine.

 

Should you have a seafood allergy, make sure to speak to a doctor or an allergy clinic in College Station so that they can find a solution to your allergies.

 

REFERENCES:

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Healthline  

Teens Health

Mayo Clinic