What is a Shellfish Allergy?
A shellfish allergy occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to the proteins in a particular shellfish. This type of allergy is most often a severe allergy and can be life threatening. It is more common in adults, and is less likely to be outgrown. People who are allergic to one type of fish are likely to develop an allergy to other fish. Shellfish allergy is an allergic reaction to a crustacean or mollusk. The crustacean family includes shrimp, lobster, crab, prawn, crayfish. The mollusks family includes mussels, clams, scallop, snails, octopus and squid (squid lost their shells throughout evolution and are still a threat to the shellfish allergic). A fish allergy is often mistaken for an allergy to the parasite Anisakis. Consider being tested for this parasite if you have a reaction to fish but your allergy test is negative. After cooking or freezing food this parasite is killed; however, it can still cause a serious allergic reaction. Avoid all fish or shellfish if you are allerg
A shellfish allergy is an allergy to shellfish, including crustaceans like crabs and shrimp along with mollusks such as mussels, abalone, and octopi. This food allergy is among the most common food allergies in the world, and it is also one of the more severe food allergies. Many people with a shellfish allergy are seriously allergic, and they can become seriously sick or die as a result of eating shellfish. This makes avoidance of crustaceans and mollusks critical. This allergy develops when someone’s body determines that the proteins in shellfish represent dangerous invaders. The body programs antibodies to respond to those proteins, and when shellfish is consumed, those antibodies go on the attack, triggering a release of histamines into the bloodstream and a cascading reaction of symptoms. Numbness and tingling around the mouth are common, along with wheezing and airway obstruction. Vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms can also occur when someone with a shellfish allergy co
