What makes some shellfish allergenic? What are the symptoms?
Proteins in shellfish cause allergic reactions. The symptoms are similar to that of other food allergies which manifest on the skin, in the digestive system, and in the respiratory system. Within 2-24 hours of eating shellfish, the person may experience hives, itching, swelling, wheezing or shortness of breath, asthma, nasal congestion, nausea, upset stomach, cramps, heart burn, gas, diarrhea, lightheadedness, or fainting. In other people, their allergies can be triggered by merely inhaling cooking vapors or handling shellfish. How to prevent a shellfish allergy? Like all other allergies, the best way to prevent the symptoms is to avoid the allergens. Therefore, to prevent a shellfish allergy, avoid eating all kinds of shellfish. If you know if you are allergic to shrimp, but not sure if you are allergic to shellfish of another group, such as clams, undergo an allergy test to be sure. Be discriminating when reading product labels, especially processed Asian-style foods, because shellfi
