Shrimp allergies in children

Shrimp is a shellfish belonging to a class of crustaceans including lobster, crab and crayfish. A child's reaction to shrimp may or may not suggest an allergy to all shellfish, but is one of the least outgrown allergies as the child matures, and will likely remain for life.

Food Allergies

• Allergies occur when your immune system has an adverse reaction to an otherwise harmless ingredient.

Risk Factors

• Children are at risk of developing a shrimp allergy if either one or both parents have a history of food allergies. Also, excessive exposure to shrimp can result in an allergic reaction.

Symptoms

• A reaction to shrimp can occur anywhere from two to 24 hours after ingestion and may include hives, nausea, diarrhea, tingling in the mouth, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the tongue or throat. The most severe reaction is anaphylactic shock, which is a tightening of the throat, choking or loss of consciousness.

Diagnosis

• To determine whether your child is allergic, visit your health care provider and describe the child's symptoms in detail. They will either suggest a blood test to check for antibodies against the food allergen, or a shellfish-mix skin prick test where the skin is pricked with a mix of different shellfish to determine if shrimp is responsible.

Prevention

• The best thing to do to prevent a reaction is to avoid shrimp altogether. Steer clear of restaurants offering seafood, as the oil used to cook shrimp could be the same used to cook French fries or chicken. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests withholding shrimp from your child's diet until they are at least three years old.