Fish and seafood have always been an integral part of our diet. Today, you can easily find mussels, shrimp, squid, lobsters, oysters in stores. Therefore, allergy to seafood for many is quite an urgent problem. In this review, we will look at the main symptoms and treatments for this type of allergic reaction.
Nutritional value
Fish and seafood contain: valuable protein, fish oil and essential amino acids. Also, products of this type contain a lot of vitamin D. This substance is necessary for the body in childhood. It is responsible for the normal development of bone tissue and teeth. In addition, sea fish is high in iodine.
At the same time, the protein present in fish is a strong causative agent of allergies. What is a seafood allergy? Symptoms will be discussed next.
Key Features
Let's take a closer look at this. Allergy to seafood is characterized vividlysevere respiratory symptoms. In some cases, difficulty in breathing and sore throat is caused by the smell of fish alone. When eating seafood in acute allergic reactions, a severe asthmatic attack occurs. Often there are states of anaphylactic shock. Even a few milligrams of products can cause such a reaction. Allergies can develop with any contact with seafood. In some cases, skin redness and rashes are observed. Children with allergic reactions to fish may develop dermatitis.
How does an allergen affect the body?
This issue deserves special attention. How does a food allergy to fish and seafood manifest?
The allergen can enter the body in the following ways:
- through food;
- respiratory;
- contact.
An allergic reaction, regardless of how the pathogen enters the body, can affect one of the systems:
- respiratory;
- digestive;
- skin.
As a rule, an allergic reaction to fish in children appears before the age of 7 years. With age, her strength does not decrease. Sensitivity to the allergen does not depend on the age at which the child began to eat fish. In addition, the allergen can enter the body even if the marine individual has been excluded from the diet. Some medicines contain fish protein. Also, allergen residues may be present on the walls of containers, inwhich food was stored or prepared. The same goes for the oil used to cook seafood. The speed and strength of the reaction to the allergen is in no way related to its dose. Most often, immediate manifestations are observed.
Shellfish allergy
So how does it manifest itself? It is believed that heat treatment helps to get rid of the allergen in seafood. However, when heated, allergy pathogens in mollusks and crustaceans are almost not destroyed, they retain their activity. As a rule, an allergy to seafood is manifested due to the muscle protein of fish and crustaceans - parvalbumin. It contains 113 amino acids. This combination is an antigen for the human body. This explains the high degree of reaction to this protein.
In some elements of the fish, the allergen may be contained in larger quantities than in the rest. In this case, we are talking about caviar. Therefore, if you are prone to allergic reactions, it is better not to eat this product at all.
Dependence of manifestations on fish species
What is a seafood allergy? Shrimps, mussels, squids and other marine life often cause quite serious reactions in the body. However, simple marine fish can also cause allergies.
The most common reaction to the Atlantic cod today is considered. This is due to the wide distribution of this type of fish. Approximately 25% of children are prone to allergies to cod and salmon. Strong reactions cause shrimp. Even after inhaling their smell, a rather serious coughing fit can occur. The reason is that shrimp meat contains 10 different allergens, including tropomyosin. This protein is highly resistant to the effects of gastric juice.
Symptoms
How do you know if you're allergic to seafood? Symptoms in adults and children are basically the same. Ingestion of the allergen usually causes skin manifestations, inhalation usually causes respiratory manifestations.
The most common symptoms of this type of allergy include:
- reddening of the skin;
- severe itching;
- eye irritation;
- sneezing and stuffy nose;
- itching in the upper respiratory tract;
- shortness of breath, cough, bronchial spasms;
- headaches and dizziness;
- temperature spike;
- edema;
- anaphylactic shock.
Is there an allergy to seafood, characterized by gastrointestinal manifestations? Such cases occur, but they are quite rare.
"Non-fish" pathogens
Why does a seafood allergy occur? The reasons are not always in a specific protein. In the event that you eat artificially grown fish, the cause of an allergic reaction may be harmful substances that were contained in the feed. These include growth promoters andantibiotics. In this case, symptoms such as a sore throat and skin rash may also occur.
Another cause of allergic reactions is the content in fish products of substances that pollute water bodies. These can be pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals and dioxins. The reaction in this case is usually one-time and most likely similar to food poisoning.
Canned fish can also cause an allergic reaction. In this case, the cause will be food additives, flavorings. It is also worth considering that some types of preservatives can increase the allergic reaction.
False manifestation
Very often when eating seafood and fish, reactions similar to allergic ones occur. However, in reality, the immune system does not take any part in them. The reason for the occurrence of such symptoms is the content in the fish of substances that stimulate the synthesis of histamine. When this substance enters the tissues, the vessels dilate. This can lead to skin itching and irritation of the mucous membranes. Many seafood contain substances that promote the release of histamine. This fact must be taken into account when making a diagnosis.
Diagnosis
How do you know if you're allergic to seafood? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis of such a condition - this is the information that is usually of interest to allergy sufferers. To detect allergies, a series of tests that detect IgE are usually prescribed. Patch tests may also be required. With the help of a blood test, it is realistic to identify not only food allergens, but alsoreaction to a particular type of seafood. Also, as a result of the analysis, the level of AT content will be determined.
Treatment
What to do if the examination revealed an allergy to shrimp and seafood? How to treat such a condition? The first thing to do is to limit contact with the pathogen. An allergy sufferer should not even be in a room in which seafood is cooked or eaten. Fish markets and shops should also be avoided.
The main condition for the treatment of a reaction to seafood is the observance of an elimination diet. If clinical manifestations of allergy occur, the therapy prescribed by a qualified specialist should be followed. Foods containing fish and seafood, to which the patient has an excitatory reaction, should be completely excluded from the diet. Try to be careful about the composition of the food you eat. Do not buy products containing disodium inositol, alginate, or fish flavors.
If one of the family members has been diagnosed with an allergy to seafood, then it is better to use separate dishes for cooking fish. Even in a thoroughly washed pan or pan, the smallest allergen molecules can remain. This will be enough for the development of unpleasant symptoms.
Fish dishes and seafood should be excluded, and meat, eggs and dairy ingredients should be included in the diet. Polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in fish are best replaced with unrefined vegetable oils. If you are allergic to products of marine origin inspecial s alt can be used as a source of iodine.
To eliminate the manifestations of reactions, it is best to use special antihistamines. Tavegil and Suprastin have proven themselves well. To relieve symptoms as soon as possible, intestinal enterosorbents such as Enterosgel should also be used.
If the main manifestation of an allergy to seafood is the occurrence of rashes and itching, then it is recommended to use special glucocorticosteroid ointments and creams to eliminate them. When symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis appear, drops containing antiallergic components can be used. When such dangerous symptoms as laryngeal edema and anaphylactic shock appear, glucocorticosteroids should be used. Also in this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. Do not self-medicate. Only a qualified doctor can prescribe the appropriate treatment and choose the right dosage of drugs.
Conclusion
Today, you can easily find various seafood on sale. Many people who are fond of eating such delicacies begin to notice the appearance of signs of allergic reactions. The reason for their occurrence is a specific protein contained in marine fish and seafood. The consequences of their use can be different, ranging from simple rhinitis and irritation of the mucous membranes, ending with suffocation and severe forms of edema. To identify a seafood allergy, you must pass a wholea series of trials and analyses. If such a pathology is detected, the only way out is to refuse to use these products. Simple antihistamines may be used to relieve symptoms. In fact, an allergy is a dangerous reaction of the body to certain foods, which must be de alt with immediately!
