Recognize the Symptoms and Food Triggers Seafood Allergies

Sea animals or seafood contain lots of protein that can meet the body's nutritional needs. However, this type of food can trigger allergic reactions in some people. Seafood allergic reactions can occur ranging from mild, to very serious and require immediate medical help. Although most allergies begin in childhood, seafood allergies can also occur in adulthood. In fact, there is a possibility that can arise suddenly after eating certain seafood that did not cause allergies. This allergic reaction usually appears within minutes or hours after eating seafood.

Signs of Seafood Allergies

Seafood allergy is an abnormal or excessive reaction of the immune system to proteins contained in certain seafood. These allergic symptoms can include:

• The skin feels itchy and dry (eczema).
• Stomach ache, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
• Nasal congestion, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• Swelling in the lips, face, tongue and throat.
• The head feels dizzy, even fainting.

In certain conditions, food allergic reactions can be very serious and can endanger the lives of sufferers, which is called anaphylactic shock. This allergic reaction is an emergency condition and must be treated immediately in hospital. Severe allergic reactions are characterized by several serious symptoms, including:

• Swollen throat making breathing difficult.
• Drastic drop in blood pressure.
• Anaphylactic shock.
• Headache until loss of consciousness.

Types of Seafood that Often Triggers Allergies

Some people only feel an allergic reaction after consuming one type of seafood, such as shellfish or shrimp. However, some others can directly experience allergies after consuming seafood, whatever its type. If you have a seafood allergy, you should be aware of several types of seafood:

• Shrimp
• Lobster
• Crab
• Scallops
• Octopus
• Snail
• Conch
• Cuttlefish
• Squid

How to Prevent Seafood Allergies

The best way to prevent seafood allergies is to avoid seafood consumption or to be around seafoood locations. Here are some ways to prevent seafood allergy symptoms from appearing:

• Read the label

Food or drug products can be contaminated with substances from seafood during the production process. Always try to read the packaging label, whether the product to be consumed contains seafood ingredients.

• Finding out food ingredients

To prevent seafood allergies, there is no harm in asking food ordered when eating at restaurants. Also make sure, whether the cooking utensils used to cook seafood are the same as other foods.

• Keep your distance from seafood

Avoiding seafood processing or sales can help prevent seafood allergies. Because, some people who have seafood allergies can easily experience allergies when they are close to seafood. Among other things because of contact with seafood or inhaling seafood cuisine steam.

If necessary, see a doctor to make sure seafood allergies are suffered and possible food allergens. As far as possible avoid these types of food. If you feel symptoms of seafood allergies, you should immediately visit a doctor for proper treatment.