Shellfish Allergy

Excerpt

Shellfish reactions can occur as a result of immune system-mediated effects and also through nonimmunological processes. It is important to determine the underlying cause for the patient’s presentation to direct therapy best and understand management implications. Tropomyosin is the most common shellfish allergen found. A wide array of consumables fall under the shellfish category, including crustaceans (such as crab or shrimp) or mollusks (such as clams or scallops), which adds to the difficulty in dealing with shellfish allergies. Not all individuals react to both. One group notes only 14% cross-reactivity between crustacean and mollusk allergies.