Why does seafood often cause allergies?

All types of seafood in general can cause allergies, but species such as shrimp, crab, clams, and squid are the most common.

There are three types of causes of seafood allergies:

- Because seafood contains many nutritious proteins but also "strange" proteins, when eaten, they will be real antigens. These antigens will activate the body's immune system, causing allergies.

- Some proteins in seafood only act as a “semi-antigen – hapten” or incomplete antigen. When this type enters the body, it will combine with the existing “antigenic determinant” group to cause allergies.

- Because some seafood contains a lot of histamine. This substance when entering the body also causes symptoms like allergies.

Thus, proteins in seafood can be antigens or semi-antigens for people with seafood allergies, but are normal proteins for the vast majority of people who are not allergic to seafood. Seafood with high histamine concentrations can cause symptoms for everyone who eats it (histamine poisoning).

For seafood allergies, allergic reactions (especially anaphylactic shock) do not depend on the amount eaten, but on the sensitivity of each individual. Seafood allergies often occur very quickly, usually only a few hours after eating, some people only a few minutes. The severity of the allergy varies from person to person.

The most prominent are skin manifestations such as redness, rash, hives. Neurological manifestations such as headache, dizziness, fainting, coma. Mucosal lesions such as edema of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, stuffiness, runny nose, asthma-like dyspnea, laryngospasm. Gastrointestinal manifestations such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

Especially the symptoms of anaphylactic shock when there is cardiovascular collapse with shock symptoms such as cold pale skin, rapid and weak pulse, purple veins, low blood pressure... Severe cases such as laryngospasm, anaphylactic shock can cause rapid death if not treated promptly.

In general, except for cases of allergies caused by eating seafood containing a lot of histamine, all people who have been identified as allergic to seafood should avoid eating and coming into contact with foods of seafood origin. Allergies can even occur if you share dishes… containing seafood with others.

Do not eat dead or improperly prepared seafood because this type of food may contain a lot of histamine due to bacterial contamination.

Antihistamines are effective for skin and mucosal symptoms such as hives, rash, and facial edema. They can prevent mild allergic symptoms on the skin and mucosa, but cannot prevent severe allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock and difficulty breathing if they occur.

In severe cases, the patient must be taken to the hospital immediately and anti-allergy medications must not be used on their own.

According to Alobacsi.vn