Crab and shellfish are renowned to reduce blood sugar levels. Chromium residing in crab meat helps to increase good cholesterol and enhance healthy functioning of the heart. Besides being a great source of fatty acids, selenium, vitamin B2, copper and phosphorous, proteins in crab can trigger allergic reaction in most sensitive people.
Symptoms of crab allergy include skin and respirator disorder. It all starts when your immune system fails to identify harmless proteins in crab and stimulate chemical reaction to thwart these substances.
Experts say that if you’re sensitive to proteins in crabs, then chances of you getting irritated with other sea foods is more. So you must just not stay away from crab meat but other sea foods that have similar protein structure. Consult allergist to know about the list of foods that can irritate your immune system.
The chemical reaction may trigger even if you come in contact with crabs or breathe in cooking vapors. You may experience mild to life-threatening condition with crab allergy.
Burning Sensation in Mouth
Even small amount of crab meat can trigger these symptoms, soon or after sometime slight tingling sensation will start in and round your mouth. Crab allergens can affect you through cross-contamination, so you must keep your food away from crab meat.
Consult the doctor or allergist immediately, as the symptoms may increase rapidly.
Eczema
It’s a chronic skin ailment, which include blisters and rigorous itching at some parts of the body. This symptoms appearance when you come in contact with crabs. Eczema is common in those people who work in crab or seafood processing plant.
Blisters, red and inflamed bumps are accompanied by itching. Simple home remedy to refrain itching is to apply jojoba oil or aloe vera gel. These innate remedies may or may not show instant results.
Hives and Swelling
Experts say that within 2 to 4 hours of having crab meat or identical food reaction will trigger hives over the skin. If the sign is mild, then these bumps will disappear when you stop eating crabs.
Swelling of lips, tongue and throat are very serious conditions. You must see the doctor immediately.
Asthma
Other symptoms with asthma include wheezing, difficulty in breathing, chest tightness and cough. The symptoms may develop when you touch, eat or breathe cooking vapors of crab meat. Wheezing and other mild signs can be cleared once the person is brought out of the environment that triggered the reaction. But, in case of asthmatic symptom which may long for 8 hours you must reach allergist for diagnosis.
Anaphylaxis
Signs like serious asthma, swelling of face, throat, fainting, abdominal cramps, sudden drop in blood pressure and rashes all over the body are life-threatening signs.
Foods to avoid if you have crab or shellfish allergy
Shellfish comes in two types, the first one is mollusks and the second one is crustaceans.
What does Mollusks include?
Mollusks include the following type of shell fish
- Octopus
- Snails
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Scallops
- Clams
- Cuttlefish
- Squids
What does Crustaceans include?
These include the following
- Shrimp
- Prawn
- Crayfish
- Lobster
- Crab
It is observed that many people who have allergy to any one type of shellfish can also he effected by the other. It is advisable to avoid all types of shellfish and crabs if you are allergic to anyone category also.
One of the best ways to combat crab allergy symptoms is to stay away from crabs and identical foods. Also check ingredients list over store brought items.