Dorothy FarrarFish allergy
A fish allergy can be very severe and even lead to anaphylactic shock. The most important trigger is the protein parvalbumin. Those affected must strictly avoid eating fish because a causal therapy is not yet possible.
What is a fish allergy?
Fish allergy can occur in all social classes. It usually develops after frequent contact with fish proteins through regular consumption of fish.
As a rule, the protein parvalbumin, which is found in the white muscle meat of the fish, is responsible for a fish allergy. Those affected by allergies can often no longer tolerate fish at all. Parvalbumin is found in all fish species and has a similar amino acid composition everywhere, regardless of whether it is freshwater or saltwater fish.
A fish allergy is sometimes very severe. It can even lead to death by developing anaphylactic shock. Sometimes the smallest amounts of fish protein are enough to trigger a severe allergy. Eating meat from animals that have been fed fishmeal can also trigger a fish allergy.
causes
As already mentioned, the main trigger of a fish allergy is the muscle protein parvalbumin, which is found in all types of fish. It doesn’t matter whether the fish is eaten raw, boiled or fried. Parvalbumin is a very stable protein . It is also not destroyed by boiling or frying.The allergy usually develops with frequent contact with this protein. Therefore, people who eat fish regularly are particularly likely to suffer from a fish allergy. Scientific studies have found that in areas with high fish consumption and among fishermen, an above-average number of people suffer from a fish allergy. In some cases, people who eat fish less often are also affected. This follows simply from the fact that the protein parvalbumin can also spread via feeding with fishmeal and dust.
In allergic reactions, immunoglobulin E (IgE) forms against parvalbumin, which normally acts as an antibody against endoparasites. IgE binds to mast cells and stays there in the body for years. As soon as it binds to an allergen, histamine is released , which immediately triggers an inflammatory reaction in the body.
The fish allergy is therefore a misguided immune reaction in which IgE mistakenly attacks the protein parvalbumin as a supposedly hostile foreign protein. Of course, in addition to frequent contact with parvalbumin, a certain predisposition also plays a role in triggering the allergy. The vast majority of people do not develop an allergy even if they eat fish regularly. However, those affected usually react against all types of fish.
Only in rare cases does it happen that the allergy only exists against one type of fish. This is either the case when another protein is the allergy trigger or when the immune response is only against a single variant of parvalbumin.
When to the doctor?
A fish allergy can be life-threatening under certain circumstances, so that you need to see a doctor early on. Many affected people suffer from various clinical pictures immediately after eating fish meat. These include acute diarrhea, sweating attacks , nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. If these individual symptoms appear suddenly and for no apparent reason, then a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Explicit tests can be used to determine within a short time whether the person concerned suffers from a fish allergy. Unfortunately, as things stand at present, there is no effective remedy for this allergy, meaning that fish has to be avoided entirely. In addition, going to the nutritionist is urgently needed at this point. People who suffer from a fish allergy are allergic to the fish protein it contains.
Together with a nutritionist, a wide variety of foods that contain the above-mentioned fish protein should be pointed out. This is the only way to prevent allergic reactions at an early stage. If a doctor does not diagnose an existing fish allergy, there is an acute danger to life if fish is consumed excessively. Therefore, going to the doctor should not be put off if the symptoms mentioned above appear suddenly and for no apparent reason.
symptoms and course
Possible symptoms of fish poisoning:
A variety of symptoms can occur with a fish allergy. Both mild and severe forms are possible. Digestive problems such as abdominal pain , nausea, vomiting or diarrhea often occur. At the same time, massive skin irritations can appear. In addition to itching and skin inflammation , severe eczema often develops. Allergic colds or even asthma attacks are not uncommonly observed. In very severe cases even an anaphylactic shock occurson. If left untreated, it can quickly lead to death due to a circulatory collapse. In contrast to many other allergies, the fish allergy has a relatively poor prognosis because on the one hand it can trigger an anaphylactic shock and on the other hand there is no chance of successful hyposensitization .
Diagnose
If allergic symptoms occur when eating fish, an allergist should always be consulted. In order to find the triggering allergen, the doctor will first take a detailed medical history. This anamnesis is about determining the conditions under which the allergy occurs. If symptoms appear immediately after eating, it is most likely a food allergy.
In the case of allergies that occur immediately after eating fish, the doctor can make a suspected diagnosis of fish allergy. However, the diagnosis still has to be confirmed because allergy-like symptoms can also occur with fish poisoning. The bacteria responsible for fish poisoning also produce histamine to a greater extent.The clear diagnosis can then be confirmed by a skin and blood test as well as a provocation test. The so-called prick test is carried out as a skin test and the concentration of IgE in the blood is determined. In a provocation test, those affected are given allergen-free food for a period of time. Small amounts of fish protein are then administered under medical supervision.
complications
As a rule, complaints and complications of a fish allergy can be avoided relatively well if the person concerned does not eat fish at all. However, this can lead to certain limitations in the life and diet of the patient, so that everyday life can be restricted for the person concerned and the quality of life may decrease. The symptoms that are triggered by the fish allergy can differ in most patients. Those affected usually suffer from severe abdominal pain and diarrhea.
The patient may also feel dizzy and vomit. In some cases, the person’s face or mouth may also swell, making it difficult for the person to breathe. In the worst case, the patient dies from shortness of breath . A fish allergy cannot be treated causally, so that there are no further complications. If the person concerned avoids fish completely and does not eat it, no further complaints occur and the patient’s quality of life is not reduced.
treatment and therapy
↳ More information: Home remedies for food poisoning
A causal therapy for fish allergy is not yet possible. In contrast to many other allergies, hyposensitization cannot be carried out, because every contact the patient has with the fish protein often leads to an increase in the symptoms. Allergy sufferers should always carry an emergency kit with them so that they can react quickly if they come into contact with hidden fish protein. This emergency set contains an antiallergic and adrenaline . The exact course of action in an emergency should be discussed with an allergist.
prevention
The only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid any contact with the fish protein. This includes, first and foremost, avoiding fish dishes. It should also be discussed with a nutritionist which foods could still contain fish protein, for example as a result of feeding farm animals with fishmeal.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.