Shrimp Allergy
We can describe shrimp allergy as a hypersensitive reaction that shows up after consumption of shrimp. It is very rare that a person gets allergies after physical contact with the fish, or inhalation of the steam released while cooking shrimp. It mainly happens when a person is intolerant towards the proteins present in the fish. These people may, or may not, be allergic to other types of shellfish like crab, oyster, crayfish, etc. Like any other allergic reaction, shrimp allergy is caused due to malfunctioning of the immune system. Here, the immune system of the body fails to identify the proteins of the fish and assume it as a toxic substance. As a result, antibodies like histamines and other chemicals are released into the body that can counteract with the harmful effects of the allergen (the fish protein in this case). These antibodies mainly trigger all the allergic signs and symptoms.
Symptoms
Shrimp allergy causes hives, itchy skin rashes, eczema, runny nose, nasal congestion, irritation in the eyes, tingling sensations inside the mouth and dryness in throat. The intensity of these symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on every individual case. Most of the time, the symptoms show up within an hour of ingestion of the food, but sometimes it may taker longer to appear. Some may get swelling on the tongue and throat, as well as swelling on various other parts of the body like lips, face etc. Some patients suffer from diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In a very few cases, it can lead to anaphylactic shock, which could be life-threatening. Such a condition arises when the lungs get swollen due to the allergic reaction and obstruct the air passage and affect normal breathing process. The signs of anaphylaxis are breathing difficulty, wheezing, dizziness, lightheadedness and loss of consciousness, etc.
Treatment
The best remedy is to stop consumption of, not just shrimp but any kind of shellfish altogether. The main aim of the treatment is to provide relief from the allergic symptoms. When the symptoms are mild, then doctors prescribe antihistamine medicines for allergy relief. These medicines can effectively bring down the itchiness of rash, swelling and various other discomforts associated with the allergic reaction. However, when the allergy is severe and anaphylaxis signs are noticed, then the patient should be rushed to the emergency room for treatment. Here, doctors administer epinephrine injection, which is an injectable form of hormone adrenaline. It helps in relaxation of the muscles, which in turn open up the breathing passage. Thus the normal breathing process is restored. If you have a medical history of anaphylaxis attack due to such food allergies, your doctor may recommend to carry an auto-injector of epinephrine all the time, in order to avoid any unforeseen consequences.
When you are aware of the fact that you have shrimp allergy, you have to be extra careful while eating out. Sometimes, restaurants use the same oil or utensils for frying the shrimp as well as other foods like chicken or French fries. In that case, eating those fried foods can also cause allergic reaction. While buying any processed food read the labels of the product, to check if it contains shrimp or not. Even a trace amount of shrimp is enough to trigger the symptoms. Even there are some medicines that contain shrimp shells as ingredients and they might be harmful for you.
