Discovering that you have a shellfish allergy will often come as a shock to you as it usually manifests itself in adult life... and of course it will happen just at the wrong time just as you are eating. A friend of mine experienced it for the first time when she was out on a first night date with someone, who fortunately saw the funny side of the situation after all the upset had died down!

What is a shellfish allergy?

The answer is when your body suffers an allergic reaction to two classes of food: The mollusk family, including clams, mussels, and oysters and the crustaceans which include shrimp, lobster and crab. A sufferer who is specifically allergic to one class of the shellfish family will always be advised to stay away from foods containing both classes of shellfish as there can be a high rate of cross reactivity.

And believe me, if you have been affected by eating shellfish, you won't have any problem with staying away from this type of food entirely especially after suffering a reaction to it.

Symptoms to this type of allergy can be extreme, and will include hives - characterized as very itchy bumps or red or pink welts on the skin and also a pronounced redness below the skin, including a pronounced swelling of the lips face tongue face and throat. There may be trouble with breathing exacerbated by a blocked up feeling in the nose and a wheezy chest.
Sufferers may experience stomach pains, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. The patient may complain of a tingling in the mouth and feel very dizzy or feel faint.

If the signs or symptoms become greatly exacerbated, then it could mean an imminent episode of anaphylaxis, which although rare, is a life threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention with adrenaline and a trip to the emergency unit.

Symptoms to be aware of when faced with this type of situation are:

*Difficulty in breathing. This may be due to a swollen throat or tongue or accompanied by the feeling that there is a "lump in the throat".

*Shock.

*A light, rapid pulse

*An indication of dizziness or a loss of consciousness.
If you see anyone suffering from these symptoms then CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES and check to see whether they are carrying an epinephrine auto-injector with them, give them the medication and administer first aid until medical help arrives.

If you have been told that your symptoms indicate an allergy to shellfish then it is important that you consult with your doctor. You will need to assess your potential risk to anaphylaxis as it is important that you know exactly what to do if you ever suffer from this type of severe allergic reaction. If your doctor feels that you need a prescription for epinephrine, then you must ensure that you have it with you at all times. Make certain that you and family member and close friends have a good idea of how to administer the drug if need be.

Having a shellfish allergy isn't the end of the world. Learning to understand how it occurs and getting as much advice from your doctor and understanding from your loved ones, will give you a good idea of how to develop coping strategies in your life so that you can learn to avoid the triggers that cause these often traumatic symptoms and alleviate the effects this allergy may have on your life.

Learn more about this author, Jane Allyson.
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