On the past few years, millons of people all over the world have become conscious of their health. Because of this, many people prefer to consume fish over red meat such as beef or pork. Truly, fish is a part of a healthy diet since fish has high protein and even contain omega 3 fatty acids that are now recognized ideal for cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, as much as many people choose to consume fish such as tuna, salmon, herring or any great-tasting fish – fish allegy is an obstacle.
Fish allergy is a type of seafood allergy that many individuals suffer from. Although this type of allergy is considered part of the seafood allergy where other crustaceans or mollusks trigger allergic reactions. A person with fish allergy may continue eating shrimp, squid and other seafood delights. Fish allergy happens because the body overreacts to a protein found only in certain types of fishes such as tilapia, tuna, salmon, cod, pollock etc. Aside from tasting fish, even inhaling smoke when cooking fish like frying or grilling can trigger an allergic reaction.
Fish allergy is exhibited by the following symptoms: itching, skin rashes, and respiratory problems such as difficulty in breathing. However, the most common sign of fish allergy that shows within 2 hours of consuming fish is “oral allergy symptom”. This begins with the mouth experiencing a tingling sensation especially in the lip area. Additionally, digestive problems can also occur such as diarrhea and vomiting which needs medical help. From the given fish allergy symptoms, constriction of air passageways is the most lethal since the person will have difficulty in breathing. The allergy can even lead to anaphylactic shock wherein blood pressure falls and the person can become comatose. Epinephrine treatment is the only remedy when shock happens. So if you or a loved one shows mild symptoms of fish allergy, better avoid eating any type of fish.
However, it’s also possible that some dish prepared with fish sauce such as Asian or Mediterranean cuisine can trigger fish allergy when dining out. A practical way to avoid this is to not order dishes coming from such special cuisine.
At first, fish allergy may seem simple but it's actually very complicated so be careful because one’s health should never be compromised.
Posted in: Allergy