Shrimp Allergy Symptoms: Home Remedies For Allergy To Shellfish

Shrimp allergy is common seafood allergy suffered by many in United States.

When a person is having food allergy, their body reacts to the protein present in the food as if it is harmful to it.

Shrimp allergy is the result of body’s immune system reaction to the protein content in shrimp, and iodine giving various shrimp allergy symptoms.

It should be noted that a person having shrimp allergy can be allergic to other shellfish such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, oysters, clams and mussels etc.

Symptoms Of Allergy To Shrimp And Shellfish

Shrimp allergy symptoms can occur soon after the person eats shrimp, or it can also occur in a hypersensitive individual coming in contact with shrimp.

Skin symptoms:

• Itching
• Hives.
• Rash
• Eczema.

Stomach symptoms:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Stomach pain.
• Diarrhea.

Respiratory symptoms:

• Running nose.
• Cough
• Breathing trouble.
• Wheezing.

Mouth and face:

• Tingling and burning in mouth and lips.
• Swelling of lips.
• Swelling of eyes.
• Swelling of tongue and throat.
• Sore eyes
• Watering eyes.

Anaphylactic reaction: life threatening serious allergic symptom.

• Low blood pressure.
• Dizziness.
• Low pulse.
• Throat swelling
• Breathing difficulty.
• Loss of consciousness.

Skin rash are very common and first to occur when a person is having shrimp allergy.

The rash of shrimp allergy can be localized or all over the body.  Shrimp allergy rash is associated with itching, burning and tingling sensation. It can be mild to severe in onset depending on the person’s immune system.

Shrimp allergy can be confirmed with shrimp allergy test. There is skin scratch test and blood test to detect shrimp allergy, usually caused by iodine present in shrimp.

Treatment For Allergy To Shrimps

Shrimp allergy tends to be for life long. You generally do not out grow shrimp allergy once you develop it.

• Avoid eating shrimps and other shellfishes.
• Stay away from the kitchen where the shrimp is cooked, because the steam from the cooking process can be allergic as the protein can be airborne.
• Avoid consuming calcium available from corals, as they may be allergic to people having shrimp and other shellfish allergy. Avoid glucosamine used for arthritis as it may produce symptoms of shellfish allergy.
• Put ice on the hives, it relives itchiness and swelling of the skin.
• Use of anti histamine medicine is known to reduce the symptoms of shrimp allergy, especially skin and respiratory and facial symptoms.
• In anaphylactic reaction, emergency medical help should be sought.

Home Remedies For Shrimp Allergy Symptoms

Although once allergic to shrimp it stays permanently; a person can take certain home remedies to treat the symptoms when they are mild.

• Skin rash is first to appear in shrimp allergy. Burning, itching and inflammation can be controlled by applying aloe vera juice on the affected area.
• Quercetin is a natural herb which is known to control the release of histamine and other chemicals. It helps to relieve the shrimp allergy symptoms.
• For sneezing and congested nose, use of nasal saline drops is very useful. It clears nose passage and helps you to breathe easily.
• A tea prepared from aniseed relieves cough. Drink the herbal tea twice in a day. It is an effective treatment in treating allergic cough due to shrimp allergy.