Shellfish Allergy
Of all the food allergies that are out there the most dangerous for adults is probably shellfish. There are quite a few people who end up at the hospital each year as the result of eating shellfish; unfortunately some of these people will not survive. A reaction to shellfish can result in a very serious case of anaphylaxis so it is important to avoid it if you have an allergy. Fortunately this is fairly easy to do compared to other foods that people are allergic to.
An allergy to shellfish is fairly common, especially amongst adults. In fact it is the most common food allergy with adults. Shellfish allergies are a little unusual because they tend to develop in adults. This is different than most allergies which are common in children who then usually outgrow the allergy. There are actually two different types of shellfish allergy, one is to mollusks like oysters and clams and the other is to crustaceans like lobster and crab. Despite the fact that mollusks and crustaceans are quite different and not really closely related most people who are allergic to one type of shellfish are often allergic to the other type. For this reason it is recommended that people with allergies to shellfish avoid both types. Of all shellfish shrimp is the most common allergy.
In most cases the reactions to a shellfish allergy will be mild, a rash, or runny nose will be the most common. However in some cases anaphylaxis can occur. Unfortunately anaphylaxis as the result of shellfish allergy can be very serious and does result in several deaths each year. Combine this with the fact that shellfish allergies tend to appear in adulthood and can get worse over the years it is advised that people with shellfish allergies avoid eating them.
Avoiding shellfish is fairly easy since they are not used that commonly in other foods. Any food that does contain shellfish will need to be clearly labeled. There are a few sauces and salad dressings that may contain shellfish that you will need to be on the lookout for. Other than that the big issue with shellfish is when you eat out. The risk is that if a restaurant serves shellfish there is a pretty good chance of cross contamination with other foods that they serve. When eating out you should make sure that restaurant staff know that you have an allergy to shellfish.
The other place where you may encounter shellfish is in dietary supplement. Glucosamine is a widely used dietary supplement, mainly for people with arthritis. Glucosamine is made out of the shells of shellfish so it is probably best to avoid it if you have an allergy to shellfish. The other supplement that you will need to be careful with is omega 3. This is usually made from seafood, although shellfish are not normally used there is a chance that they might be so make sure that you check the label.