Shellfish allergy

Shellfish allergy

overview

A shellfish allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body's immune system to proteins from certain seafood. Marine animals in the shellfish category include crustaceans and molluscs, such as shrimp, crabs, lobsters, squid, oysters, scallops and others.

Some people with shellfish allergies react to all shellfish; others only respond in certain ways. Reactions range from mild symptoms – such as hives or a stuffy nose – to severe and even life-threatening symptoms.

If you think you have a shellfish allergy, talk to your doctor. Tests can help confirm the allergy so you can take steps to prevent future reactions.

Symptoms

Shellfish allergy symptoms generally develop within minutes to an hour of eating shellfish. These can include:

• Nesselsucht, Juckreiz oder Ekzem (atopische Dermatitis)
• Schwellung der Lippen, des Gesichts, der Zunge und des Rachens oder anderer Körperteile
• Keuchen, verstopfte Nase oder Atembeschwerden
• Bauchschmerzen, Durchfall, Übelkeit oder Erbrechen
• Schwindel, Benommenheit oder Ohnmacht

Allergies can cause a serious, potentially life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction to shellfish or anything else is a medical emergency that requires treatment with an epinephrine (adrenaline) injection and a trip to the emergency room.

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Ein geschwollener Hals oder ein Kloß im Hals (Atemwegsverengung), der Ihnen das Atmen erschwert
• Schock mit starkem Blutdruckabfall
• Schwindel, Benommenheit oder Bewusstlosigkeit

When to go to the doctor?

Seek emergency treatment if you develop signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis.

See a doctor or allergist if you experience food allergy symptoms soon after eating.

Causes

All food allergies are caused by an overreaction of the immune system. With a shellfish allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific protein in shellfish as harmful, triggering the production of antibodies against the shellfish protein (allergen). The next time you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system releases histamine and other chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.

Types of Shellfish

There are different types of shellfish, each containing different proteins:

• Krebstiere gehören Krabben, Hummer, Langusten, Garnelen und Garnelen.
• Mollusken gehören Tintenfisch, Schnecken, Muscheln, Austern und Jakobsmuscheln.

Some people are only allergic to one type of shellfish but can eat others. Other people with shellfish allergies need to avoid all shellfish.

Risk factors

You are at increased risk of developing a shellfish allergy if allergies of any kind run in your family.

Although people of all ages can develop a shellfish allergy, it is more common in adults. In adults, shellfish allergy is more common in women. In children, shellfish allergy is more common in boys.

Complications

In severe cases, a shellfish allergy can lead to anaphylaxis, a dangerous allergic reaction characterized by a swollen throat (narrowing of the airways), rapid pulse, shock, and dizziness or lightheadedness. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening.

If you have a shellfish allergy, you may be at increased risk of anaphylaxis if:

• Sie haben Asthma
• Sie haben allergische Reaktionen auf sehr kleine Mengen Schalentiere (extreme Empfindlichkeit)
• Sie haben eine Vorgeschichte von lebensmittelinduzierter Anaphylaxie

Anaphylaxis can be treated with an emergency injection of epinephrine (adrenaline). If you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction to shellfish, you should always carry injectable epinephrine (EpiPen, Adrenaclick, others).

prevention

If you have a shellfish allergy, the only way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid all shellfish and products containing shellfish. Even trace amounts of shellfish can cause a severe reaction in some people.

Avoid shellfish

• Seien Sie vorsichtig, wenn Sie auswärts essen. Achten Sie beim Essen in Restaurants immer darauf, dass die Pfanne, das Öl oder die Utensilien, die für Schalentiere verwendet werden, nicht auch für die Zubereitung anderer Speisen verwendet werden, was zu einer Kreuzkontamination führt. Es kann notwendig sein, das Essen in Fischrestaurants zu vermeiden, wo ein hohes Risiko einer Kreuzkontamination besteht.

• Read labels.Cross-contamination can occur in stores where other foods are processed or displayed near shellfish, as well as during manufacturing. Read food labels carefully.

  Shellfish is rarely a hidden ingredient, but it can be included in fish broth or seafood flavoring. Companies are required to label any product that contains shellfish or other foods that commonly cause allergic reactions, but the rules do not apply to molluscs such as clams, oysters and scallops.

• Bleib auf Abstand. Möglicherweise müssen Sie Orte, an denen Schalentiere zubereitet oder verarbeitet werden, vollständig meiden. Manche Menschen reagieren, nachdem sie Schalentiere berührt oder Dampf vom Kochen von Schalentieren eingeatmet haben.

If you have a shellfish allergy, talk to your doctor about bringing emergency epinephrine. Consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace that lets others know you have a food allergy.

One thing you don't need to worry about is if you are also allergic to iodine or X-ray contrast media used in some imaging tests. Although shellfish contain small amounts of iodine, shellfish allergy is unrelated to the reactions some people have to X-ray contrast media or iodine.

Sources:

1. Sicherer SH. Allergien gegen Meeresfrüchte: Fisch und Schalentiere. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Abgerufen am 1. April 2018.
2. Tintinalli JE, et al. Anaphylaxie, Allergien und Angioödem. In: Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 8. Aufl. New York, NY: Die McGraw Hill-Unternehmen; 2016. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Abgerufen am 30. März 2018.
3. Schalentierallergie. Amerikanisches College für Allergie, Asthma und Immunologie. https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/shellfish-allergy. Abgerufen am 30. März 2018.
4. Papadakis MA, et al., Hrsg. Rheumatologische, immunologische und allergische Erkrankungen. In: Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2018. 56. Aufl. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill-Bildung; 2017. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Abgerufen am 31. März 2018.
5. Commins SP, et al. Nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit und Nahrungsmittelallergie bei Erwachsenen: Ein Überblick. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Abgerufen am 1. April 2018.
6. Schalentierallergie. Nahrungsmittelallergie und Forschungsausbildung. https://www.foodallergy.org/common-allergens/shellfish. Abgerufen am 30. März 2018.
7. Li JT (Gutachten). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, 11. April 2018.