So you're in your favorite seafood restaurant, the same place you've gone to for dinner a thousand times because they have to-die-for shrimp scampi. The waiter places the plate in front of you and you're nearly drooling over the large,luscious pieces of shrimp that are just waiting for you to taste them. At long last you pick one up and as you roll it around lovingly on your taste buds, you close your eyes, savoring every minute of this experience. But suddenly you're not feeling so well and your eyes burst open because suddenly you feel as though someone has just put a road block up between your airway and your lungs. You don't know what's happening to you and the next thing you know, you're in an emergency room, with a doctor telling you that you just went into anaphylactic shock which was brought on by your shellfish allergy. No more luscious shrimp for you.

Shellfish allergies are one of the the easiest to avoid, however they can also cause the most serious allergic reactions. They are lifelong allergies, no chance of ever outgrowing them, and the initial reaction doesn't occur until adulthood. So if you have an undying love for crab, lobster, shrimp, prawn, clams, mussels and scallops, then this allergy will be a particularly difficult one for you to deal with.

It is the protein in the flesh of the shellfish that most commonly cause the allergic reaction, but it can also be caused by the shellfish gelatin, which is made from the skin and bones of the fish. The good news here is, that just because you suffer from a shellfish allergy, it doesn't mean that you are or will be allergic to all seafood. Many people cannot eat shellfish, but can still enjoy many other types of fresh fish.

There are three main symtoms to watch for with shellfish allergies and they don't always happen instantaneously. They are hives, redness and swelling below the skin, and the most serious of them all, anaphylactic shock.

Anaphylactic shock is a full body allergic reaction that occurs when histamines are released into the body, causing the blood vessels to dilate, which results in swelling throughout the entire body. It also causes an obstruction of the airways and a sudden drop in blood pressure. It is a medical emergency that can be fatal if not treated right away. Shellfish allergies are a major cause of this.

While there are many treatments available if you experience a reaction to a shellfish allergy, the best thing that you can do is take as many precautions as possible to prevent a reaction from happening. The good thing about shellfish is that not many foods use it as a hidden ingredient. But if you are not preparing you're eating out one evening, be sure to inform the waitstaff immediately of your allergy. This is very important because a shellfish allergy is so sensitive, that any kind of cross contamination such as using the same cooking skillet or oil could very well bring on a reaction. So be safe, read labels and keep those around you informed. By doing these few things, you will be just fine.

Learn more about this author, Mary Bubbins.
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