Caring For A Shellfish Allergy At Home
There are no home remedies for a shellfish allergy, but being under the care of a doctor or seeking emergency care after exposure is essential.
However, people can often manage a shellfish allergy by learning how to read nutritional labels to avoid the allergen.
While food producers must include an allergen statement on foods containing crustacean shellfish, the same is not true of mollusks. However, people can find this information in the ingredients list instead.
How Long Does It Take For Food Allergy Symptoms To Develop
For some people, an allergic reaction to a particular food may be uncomfortable but not severe. For other people, an allergic food reaction can be frightening and even life-threatening. Food allergy symptoms usually develop within a few minutes to two hours after eating the offending food. The most common food allergy signs and symptoms include:
How Do I Manage A Shellfish Allergy
You cant become un-allergic to shellfish. The best way to keep yourself healthy is to avoid shellfish. Besides avoiding shellfish itself, make sure you avoid foods that contain shellfish.
The Food and Drug Administration requires food manufacturers to list common food allergens, such as shellfish, on food labels. The food label lists the allergen either in the ingredients list or after the list. For example, if a product contains abalone, a species of shellfish, the label will state abalone in the ingredients or contains shellfish after the ingredients list.
Recommended Reading: Claritin Childrens
What Are The Symptoms Of Food Allergy
Itchy, red eyes caused by allergic reaction to foods
The human bodys reaction to allergen differs from person to person, it might be something as simple as a sneeze to something life-threatening like Anaphylaxis. Statistically, more than four percent of adults and more than seven percent of children suffer from food allergies. Approximately 30% of allergic children also have multiple allergies. Luckily most of them outgrow these allergies.
Whatever the reaction is, it is recommended to immediately stop consuming the food causing this reaction, and if you dont know what it is you should go to a hospital in order to prevent your health from worsening because of the allergen. Usually, the body reacts to allergen really fast, ranging from a few minutes to a couple of hours, and they are very easy to distinguish.
Can A Baby Get A Rash From An Allergic Reaction
Babies can have several different types of skin rash, which have a range of causes. Some allergic reactions can also lead to additional symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Common types of allergic reactions in infants include the following: Irritating fabrics, soaps, and heat can lead to eczema outbreaks in babies.
Read Also: Allergies Losing Voice
What Are Shellfish Allergies
Although most major food allergies begin in childhood, one allergy in particular stands apart: shellfish. An allergy to shellfish may develop any time during a persons life, but tends to present in adulthood. It can be caused by foods that youve eaten before with no issues.
Along with fish, shellfish allergies are the most common adult-onset food allergies. Its estimated that more than 6.5 million American adults have allergies to one or both, according to Food Allergy Research & Education .
There are two kinds of shellfish, crustaceans and mollusks. Here are a few examples of crustaceans to watch out for if youre allergic:
- shrimp
- snails
- scallops
Most people who are allergic to one type of shellfish are also allergic to the other type. Theres a chance you may be able to eat some varieties. However, doctors usually recommend that people with shellfish allergies avoid all varieties to be safe.
A shellfish allergy is different from other allergies in other ways, as well. For example, allergic reactions to shellfish are unpredictable, sometimes occurring long after a person has consumed the allergen and has shown no other symptoms. Allergic reactions to shellfish also often become more severe with each exposure.
What Are Signs Of Mild Allergic Reaction
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction vary from person to person. The most common signs include an itchy rash on the body. For contact allergies, the rash is usually localized to the part of the body that touched the substance, but with internal exposure caused by eating or breathing in the trigger the rash can spread across the entire body.
You May Like: Allergy Medication Non Drowsy
You Dont Have These Symptoms
Colds and allergies share many of the same symptoms, so it can be tough to tell which one youre going through. Because they share symptoms such as coughing and congestion its helpful to consider the symptoms that these two conditions dont share.
If youre experiencing any of these symptoms, theres a good chance you have a cold:
- Fatigue
- Severe headache
- Sore throat
Another way to tell the difference between a cold and allergies is the duration of your symptoms. Colds usually go away on their own in seven to 10 days, whereas allergies persist until theyre treated or until the trigger is gone which can take months depending on what you are allergic to.
If you know youre allergic to pollen, you can try an app like Zyrtec AllergyCast to check the pollen counts and see if its a good idea to go outside.
How To Treat Seasonal Allergies
In most cases, an over-the-counter antihistamine and decongestant will do the trick. If you have severe allergies, however, your doctor may prescribe nasal steroid spray or allergy shots to dampen symptoms.
Its always a good idea to try your best to avoid your triggers, but that doesnt mean you have to hole up inside with a box of tissues. To get less exposure to your allergens:
- Keep your windows shut when your allergies are active
- Use an air purifier if youre sensitive to indoor allergens
- Wear a dust mask while doing yard work
- Check your local weather network for pollen forecasts
- Take a shower and wash your hair at the end of each day to get rid of pollen that attached to your clothes, hair and skin
Also Check: Zyrtec 24 Count
Tree Nut Allergy: Which Nuts Are Tree Nuts
Common tree nuts are walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios and Brazil nuts. FARE suggests tree nut allergies tend to be lifelong. Only nine percent of children with a tree nut allergy will out grow it.
Similarly, younger siblings of children who are allergic to tree nuts are at higher risk of developing the same allergy. Furthermore, 25 to 40 percent of individuals with a tree nut allergy are also allergic to peanuts.
What Causes Food Allergies
Food allergies happen when the immune system the body’s defence against infection mistakenly treats proteins found in food as a threat.
As a result, a number of chemicals are released. It’s these chemicals that cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Almost any food can cause an allergic reaction, but there are certain foods that are responsible for most food allergies.
Foods that most commonly cause an allergic reaction are:
- milk
- shellfish
- some fruit and vegetables
Most children that have a food allergy will have experienced eczema during infancy. The worse the child’s eczema and the earlier it started, the more likely they are to have a food allergy.
It’s still unknown why people develop allergies to food, although they often have other allergic conditions, such as asthma, hay fever and eczema.
Recommended Reading: Zyrtec.
What Actually Is Hay Fever And What Are The Symptoms
Hay fever is a type of allergy that occurs when your body reacts to pollen from trees or shrubs as though it was a harmful organism. To fight this supposed harmful organism, a hay fever sufferers immune system will start producing antibodies to try to prevent it spreading.
The histamine produced by the body leads to the sufferer developing typical hay fever symptoms such as:
- Sneezing
- Disrupted sleep, tiredness and irritability
What Is The Difference Between Food Allergy And Food Intolerance
Food allergy is sometimes confused with food intolerance. Food allergies involve your immune system and can be life-threatening. An intolerance is when your body has trouble digesting a food. It can make you feel bad, usually with an upset stomach, but it is not life-threatening. The most common intolerance is to lactosewhich is a natural sugar found in milk.
Don’t Miss: Aeroallergen Skin Test
Symptoms Of Seafood Allergy
- dizziness or collapsing due to a sudden drop in blood pressure
If you’re experiencing any of these dangerous symptoms, you need urgent medical assistance. Call triple zero or go straight to the emergency department of your nearest hospital.
If you are allergic to seafood, symptoms usually appear within minutes, but some people may not experience symptoms until hours later. This sometimes happens after exercise.
Milk Allergy: The Difference Between A Milk Allergy And Lactose Intolerance
A milk allergy is when the immune system does not recognize dairy and attacks it by releasing histamines. Someone with a milk allergy can develop severe symptoms, such as breathing complications or an uneven heartbeat.
A milk allergy is not to be confused with lactose intolerance, Andrew said. When someone is lactose intolerant, lactosea type of sugar found in dairy productsmoves through the large intestine without being properly digested. It can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as gas, bloating or indigestion. When someone is allergic to milk and dairy products, the symptoms affect more than the digestive tract.
Read Also: Does Twix Have Nuts
Can Iodine Trigger A Shellfish Allergy
Iodine is an element found throughout the body and is essential to the production of thyroid hormones and various amino acids. In short, human beings cant survive without it. There has been some confusion in recent years regarding the relationship between shellfish allergy and iodine. Many people falsely believe that iodine may trigger an allergic reaction in people with a shellfish allergy. Iodine is often used in medications and in contrast agents used in medical imaging.
The misconception is largely related to a Florida court case about a man who died from a severe allergic reaction. The man had a known shellfish allergy. The allergic reaction occurred a few minutes after he received contrast iodine from a cardiologist. The mans family was awarded a $4.7 million settlement for successfully arguing that the contrast iodine used in his treatment for acute coronary syndrome had caused the mans death.
A study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine concluded that iodine is not an allergen. According to the researchers, Allergies to shellfish, in particular, do not increase the risk of reaction to intravenous contrast any more that of other allergies.
What Happens At Your Diagnostic Appointment
Booked your appointment with Midland Health already? Heres what you can expect to happen on the day! First of all, you will have a private consultation with one of our GPs who will ask you questions about your symptoms and your medical history to better understand your situation.
Following the initial consultation, our medical experts will advise you on the type of allergy test that you need. We can take a sample on the day of your visit or schedule an appointment for a later date.
While you are waiting for your appointment, you must not eat fish or shellfish to avoid having a severe allergic reaction before being prescribed the right medication.
In preparation for your GP visit, you could also write down all the information you can think of about your symptoms and medical history. You could also make a list of questions that you would like to ask your doctor. Our private clinicians will be happy to answer any queries you might have, so you could also make a list of questions that you would like to ask your doctor during your visit.
Don’t Miss: Robotussin Drug
Symptoms Of Spring Allergies:
Spring allergy symptoms are typical of respiratory allergies, these include:
- Sinus Congestion
- Coughing
- Itchy or Watery Eyes
Determining what is causing your symptoms is the first step towards relief, in the case of spring allergies there are several things you can do to help ease your symptoms. The seasonal allergy season can be difficult to navigate.
Dont Miss: Do Twix Have Nuts
What Else Should I Know
If allergy testing shows that your child has a shellfish allergy, the doctor will give you guidelines on keeping your child safe. To prevent allergic reactions, your child must not eat shellfish. Your child also must not eat any foods that might contain shellfish as ingredients. Anyone who is sensitive to the smell of cooking shellfish should avoid restaurants and other areas where shellfish is being cooked.
For information on foods to avoid, check sites such as the Food Allergy Research and Education network .
Always read food labels to see if a food contains shellfish. Manufacturers of foods sold in the United States must state whether foods contain any of the top eight most common allergens, including crustacean shellfish. The label should list “shellfish” in the ingredient list or say “Contains shellfish” after the list.
Some foods look OK from the ingredient list, but while being made they can come in contact with fish. This is called cross-contamination. Look for advisory statements such as “May contain fish,” “Processed in a facility that also processes fish,” or “Manufactured on equipment also used for fish.” Not all companies label for cross-contamination, so if in doubt, call or email the company to be sure.
Cross-contamination often happens in restaurants. In kitchens, shellfish can get into a food product because the staff use the same surfaces, utensils , or oil to prepare both shellfish and other foods.
Other things to keep in mind:
You May Like: Allergic Drugs Name
How Long Does A Food Allergy Last In Your System
According to statistics, at least one out of 5 people suffer from some type of allergies, such as food allergy, allergy to dust and pollens, allergy to animals and insects, and its no surprise that most of us have had an allergic reaction especially related to food, but how long does a food allergy last in your system? How long does it take for the allergens to get out of your system and for your physique to function normally?
Dont Miss: Can Allergies Cause Muscle Weakness
What Is Considered Shellfish And What Foods Should A Person With A Seafood Allergy Avoid
Once you or your child test positive for a seafood allergy, your doctor will give you all sorts of informative pamphlets and literature regarding whats safe to consume. It goes without saying this includes shellfish. Interestingly, some people with shellfish allergies will react to crustaceans and not mollusks or vice versa confirm with a healthcare provider whether you should stay away from all shellfish or certain types.
As a general rule of thumb, though, a person with shellfish allergies should avoid:
- abalone
- snails
- whelks
Basically, youll need to become a pro at reading food labels and just being super-vigilant about where your food comes from. Any food made in a seafood restaurant could be cross-contaminated with shellfish. Some people can have an allergic reaction simply from being around cooking odors, from touching shellfish, or from being exposed to shellfish steam .
Don’t Miss: Loratadine For Allergic Reaction
Symptoms Of Shellfish And Fish Allergies
Every persons immune system is different, and shellfish and fish allergies can cause diverse symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Many food allergies do not cause severe symptoms, but they can be life threatening in some people and should be taken seriously.Fish and shellfish allergic reactions can occur after eating seafood, but you can also have symptoms after touching seafood or inhaling fumes from shellfish or fish while they are being cooked or processed in a factory.Milder allergic symptoms that can occur before a severe allergic reaction include:
- raised red bumps of skin hives
- swelling of the lips
- tightening of the throat
- digestive symptoms cramps, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting.
If you or a child in your care have experienced any of these symptoms after eating fish or shellfish, the risk of having a severe reaction after eating that food is greater than usual. Ask your doctor to refer you to a medical specialist, known as an allergist or clinical immunologist.
Treatment For Shellfish Allergy
Treatment will depend on the severity of the allergy.
- In more severe cases of anaphylaxis reaction, doctors recommend life saving drugs.
- Oat meal bath is a simple home remedy to soothe itching and urticaria.
- Avoid shellfish food and its allied products.
- Avoid going to fish markets as some people are hypersensitive to airborne fish particles.
The old proverb prevention is better than cure is very true for shellfish allergy.
Recommended Reading: Claritin Sleeping
What Foods Most Often Cause Food Allergy
Approximately 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by the followingeight foods:
-
Milk
-
Fish
-
Shellfish
Eggs, milk, and peanuts are the most common causes of food allergies inchildren, with wheat, soy, and tree nuts also included. Peanuts, tree nuts,fish, and shellfish commonly cause the most severe reactions. Nearly 5percent of children under the age of five years have food allergies. From1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18 percentamong children under age 18 years. Although most children “outgrow” theirallergies, allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish may belifelong.
How Long Does It Take For The Allergens To Get Out Of Your System
One of the symptoms of Anaphylaxis
Once you consume something you are allergic to, the allergen will start spreading through your whole body. No matter how much of it you eat, recovering from such reactions takes time. It might take from a couple of hours to a couple of days or weeks. If you are in contact with a said allergen it might even take months to recover from and can lead to lasting damages to your organs.
Most light cases of allergy only need a couple of hours to extract the allergen out of your system. Things like rashes could take a couple of days, depending on the severity, to heal from, on the occasion that you dont scratch it, otherwise, it will take even longer. Things like tightened airways might even take months to go to normality. It all depends on how badly your body reacts to an allergen.
You May Like: Tight Chest And Wheezing At Night
