Thursday, September 4, 2014

Essential Facts Concerning Shellfish Allergy

By Tonci Vulin


Shellfish allergy is the most frequent food allergy among adults in the United States. About 2 % of American adults have a shellfish allergy, and 0.1 percent of children have a shellfish allergy.

It is during the adult years that shellfish allergies are likely to develop. Individuals with shellfish allergies are likely to have lifelong food allergies.

Signs and symptoms of Shellfish Allergy Symptoms of shellfish allergy typically appear within minutes up to two hours of eating shellfish. The following are the symptoms of shellfish allergy: Hives and eczema are a few of the common skin allergic reactions. Allergic conjunctivitis: Itchy, red, watery eyes. GI reactions such as nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Airways symptoms like wheezing or coughing or runny nose.

Angioedema: Swelling of lips, tongue, or face Severe anaphylaxis is the severe symptom of shellfish allergy. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires quick medical treatment. Shellfish allergy is the most common causes of Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis, in which the combination of eating a food allergen and exercising brings about anaphylaxis. What Are Shellfish, Anyway?

Mollusks and Crustaceans are two primary families of the shellfish origin. Oysters, squids and clams are under the family of mollusks. Crustaceans contain shrimp, lobster, and crayfish. Shellfish may live in fresh or salt water - or even on land.

People who are allergic to one form of crustacean, like shrimp, are usually allergic to all other crustaceans. If you are allergic to crustaceans, you may or may not be able to eat mollusks such as clams or oysters. Allergy testing is the most dependable way to pick which shellfish, if any, you will be able to eat.

The allergenic protein in shellfish (tropomyosin) isn't only found in sea creatures. People with shellfish allergies may also have allergic reactions to land snails, dust mites, cockroaches, or other insects.

Engaged To a Shellfish Allergy As there is no treatment for shellfish allergy right now, taking care of your shellfish allergy involves avoiding all shellfish and being ready for future reactions. If you have been diagnosed with a serious shellfish allergy, your physician will prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector (typically called an Epi-Pen) that you will need to carry with you all the time. Avoiding shellfish may look effortless, but food allergens can lurk in surprising places. Hence, it is vital that you read labels before buying a food product. In addition to that, you also need to affirm if the food that you are about to order in a restaurant incorporates shellfish to prevent allergies. The Labelling Laws for Shellfish Products The Food Allergy Labeling Law (FALCPA) specifies crustacean shellfish as one of the huge eight allergens, but not mollusks. This means that manufacturers are not needed to list the presence of clams, oysters, mussels, scallops or other mollusks in ingredient lists.

If you are allergic to crustacean shellfish, there is a likelihood that you may have a sensitivity to mollusks as well. You can ascertain the safety of eating mollusks by having an allergy tests.

For those who have known shellfish allergies, its best to read the content and label of the goods you are buying. Allergy to Iodine Products and Shellfish There are unverified issues of a cross reactivity between shellfish allergy and iodine/contrast allergy - some old medical forms still list this inappropriately as a contraindication. Radiocontrast components are iodine-containing products and they don't have to be averted when you have shellfish allergy. It is possible to be allergic to iodine or radiocontrast material, but those allergies aren't related to shellfish allergies, so you do not need to worry about cross-reactions.

Signs and Symptoms of Shellfish Poisoning Shellfish poisoning is also called Red Tide and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. You might confuse yourself with the symptoms of shellfish poisoning for an allergic reaction since it usually erupts within 30 minutes after intake of spoiled shellfish. Saxitoxin is a powerful toxin that largely causes shellfish poisoning. This toxin is released by algae organisms found in the molluscs, clams and oysters. As such, this kind of toxin only affects mollusks, and not fish or lobster. Symptoms may include prickling or burning in the mouth or extremities, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Shellfish poisoning is something that must not be dismissed since this could lead to life-threatening conditions. If you have any of these symptoms after eating shellfish, look for emergency medical care.




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