Shellfish Allergy Symptoms

A shellfish allergy is a common food allergy that can become life threatening. It is most common in adults and older children and can occur even when the person has eaten the same type of shellfish before without a reaction. If a person has an allergy to one type of shellfish, it is likely he will have allergies to other types as well.

Common Reactions

• Common shellfish allergy symptoms include hives, itching, swelling, wheezing, nasal congestion, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting or a tingling in the mouth.

Severe Reactions

• Severe shellfish allergy symptoms are rare, but can be life threatening. They include constriction of airways, shock, rapid pulse or loss of consciousness.

Time Frame

• Shellfish allergy symptoms typically appear within a few hours to a few days after the shellfish is consumed.

Foods to Avoid

• People allergic to shellfish should avoid abalone, clams, cockle, conch, crab, crawfish, lobster, mollusks, mussels, octopus, oysters, scallops, shrimp, snails and squid.

Prevention

• An allergic reaction to shellfish can be avoided by reading food labels to see if the product contains shellfish.

Be Prepared

• A health-care professional may prescribe injectable epinephrine in cases of severe allergic reactions. A medical alert bracelet can be worn to alert emergency personnel of the condition.