Do you have a shellfish allergy?

[HIU8]

DD is going back to the ped allergist a week from Friday to be tested for shellfish. While out with DH and I, she ate some of DH's food (the pasta and mushrooms from his fruite de mar dish that had shrimp, crab and scallops) and started to itch all over. We gave her benadryl and it did start to help it. She had never had any shellfish or anything on a dish with any shellfish before. For the time being, to limit her exposure, is there anything I need to have her aviod other than obviously shellfish (or anything on a plate with it or cooked near it)? FWIW, I am allergic to shrimp, crab and lobster. My mother is allergic to those plus scallops and my brother is allergic to all shellfish (his is a severe allergy. Mine and my mother's is much milder). I do not eat shellfish, but I will eat at restaurants that serve it (never paying attention to cross contamination or anything).

[niccig]

My mother is allergic to shrimp. It's like food poisoning and she will vomit for hours and need to be hospitalized. Growing up, we could have shrimp in the house, but she would not be involved in the prep or clean up. She can't even touch it as if she doesn't wash it all off her hands, then touches her lips, she will get sick. Cross contamination has not been an issue for her.

I was worried about DS and waited until we were somewhere so if it was an allergy, we would be fine. DS is fine.

[bubbaray]

Shellfish is a separate allergy than finned fish. Both are in the "top 9".

Shellfish and finned fish are considered the only true airborne food allergies. If she is allergic to shellfish, she may not be able to be around cooking shellfish, b/c it aerosolizes. I can not cook finned fish in the house anymore (I cook it outside on the BBQ wrapped in foil).

Given your family history, I would consider her allergic to shellfish until you can get her tested.

[ZeeBaby]

My mom has a shellfish allergy too. Thankfully it is not airborne, so we can cook it when she is in the house.

[amldaley]

Sometimes to scallops and shrimp but I think mine is actually a reaction to the sulfites used to preserve these. Before I went Veg, I used to rinse my seafood thoroughly before cooking.

[Pyrodjm]

I am very allergic to lobster, crab, shrimp and scallops. They caused lots of vomiting if I eat it and mild nausea ( with maybe a little vomiting) if I eat foods cooked with those items. I also get nauseous if I'm in the house when crab or lobster are cooking. I'm not sure if touching it is a problem, I've avoided the stuff like the plague since I was a teen.

[lowrioh]

I'm also allergic to shellfish and have a pretty severe reaction with swelling lips and trouble breathing etc when I inadvertently eat some. I had a reaction once at work where I scooped a chip into a hummus dip after someone had dipped shrimp and my lip swelled right up and I had to go and take some benedryl. Other than that I have had no problems being around shell fish. My Dad has the same allergy and oddly enough so does my DH.
I would assume she has the allergy but I wouldn't worry about keeping her away from seafood restaurants or anything. The biggest problem I have with the seafood allergy is eating at Chinese restaurants. Sometimes Egg Rolls have shrimp in them even if it isn't listed on the menu.

[plusbellelavie]

My DD is allergic to shellfish...and has had some pretty bad reactions due to cross contaminations in resturants...which have some type of shellfish on the menu (one of her worse reactions was in a pizza place in Venice.) but she has had episodes in other ethnic resturants as well

BTW I always ask if they fry thier french fries in the same oil that they used for their fried shirmp, clams, etc...I started asking after DD got sick eating fries and I was told by her allergist it could have been from the oil used and if they cooked their shellfish in the same oil as the fries (many resturants do).

Her allergies started with a reaction to scallops (which she use to love but we no longer allow in the house for anyone) and has progressed from there.

We are extremely careful when eating fish at home and rinse with cold water any fish before we cook it. Unfortunately we learned the hard way on this or I should say DD learned the hard way....we purchased some fish from a fish market and DH forgot to rinse it before cooking it and DD had a terrible reaction. (We assume that it was from cross contamination with shellfish at the market but we don't know for sure!)

Also since DS1, DS2, and DH love clams and mussels I still make them at home but I cook them on the BBQ and DD eats something else that night she has never gotten sick on the nights we have done this.

Although DS1 has severe food allergies...only DD is allergic to shellfish....no one else in DH or my family is allergic to shellfish.

I hope all goes well at the doctor's next week! Best of luck!!

[kozachka]

Don't know if you wanted a representative sample or not, and why I am the first to post this, but, no, I am not allergic to shellfish and neither is DH or DS.

[mjs64]

Don't know if you wanted a representative sample or not, and why I am the first to post this, but, no, I am not allergic to shellfish and neither is DH or DS.

Right, so in the interest of a "representative sample," no, thank goodness, I do not! I loooove shellfish and will be sad if DS has a problem with it. So sorry for those of you with the allergy.

Maybe, in the interest of sampling, make this a poll? Would be interested to see the results, especially given the recent threads on the seeming increase in diagnosed FAs.

[Gracemom]

My sister has a severe shellfish allergy. We had eaten it all our lives, until she went out to dinner in college and had an anaphylactic reaction and had to go to the ER. Scary. I'm hesitant to let me kids have shrimp because of this, even though I'm fine.

[MelissaTC]

My mom has developed a severe reaction to all shellfish despite eating it all her life. She can't even touch it, as her hands will break out in hives. She carries an epi pen for it and has to be careful where she eats.

[gatorsmom]

Dh is allergic to shellfish but it's not life-threatening. No one else is in my family, afaik.

[kmm]

I am severely allergic and have issues with swelling and breathing. We have to be very careful about what restaurants we eat at and what I touch. I do carry an epi pen with me at all times.