Seafood Allergy

If you have a seafood allergy then you suffer from allergies type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Countries where seafood is a staple part of the diet such as Scandinavian, Spain, and Japan have a higher percentage of individuals with seafood allergy.

This is due to the ability of seafood allergy reactions gradually increasing in severity over time. If you are susceptible to getting a seafood allergy, then the more you are exposed to the allergens the more likely it is that you will develop symptoms. Once seafood allergy reaction has developed the allergy is usually for life.

The good news is that seafood allergy is usually restricted to only one seafood type or group. Seafood allergy is caused within several types of seafood groups are including Vertebrates like anchovies, cod, herring, mackerel, salmon, and tuna; Crustaceans like crab, lobster, prawns, and shrimp; Shellfish like clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops; Cephalopods like calamari, cuttlefish, octopus, and squid; and Gastropods like garden slugs, sea slugs, and snails.

If you have a seafood allergy to something in the vertebrates group then there is a 50 to 75 percent chance that you will have seafood allergy to one of the other vertebrates. The same holds true for the rest of the groups. Complete avoidance of one or more groups of seafood is often recommended. However, just because you have seafood allergy to one of the vertebrates does not mean that you will have seafood allergy to something in the shellfish group.

Whenever something in a new group is tried for the first time you should only eat a small amount and then see if any of the seafood allergy symptoms occur within several hours. Seafood allergy symptom include hives or rash, difficulties in breathing, headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears and an increase or decrease in blood pressure.

Some reactions to shellfish are caused by toxic reactions that mimic a seafood allergy reaction. Shellfish contaminated by algae-derived neurotoxins interfere with the function of nerve endings in the human body, thus giving the appearance of a seafood allergy reaction. Symptoms occur within a couple of hours and usually last about 24 hours.

A growing awareness about seafood allergy is becoming well known in the United States. Food manufactures and restaurants are becoming more understanding and willing to accommodate people living with a seafood allergy. Living with a seafood allergy is no longer a major undertaking; it is now just a minor adjustment to your life-style.

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