New Allergy - Prawns

[Matilda]

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[skbird]

Hi Mathilda -

I have not been tested but I have experienced the same thing. I love prawns and all shellfish. At some point though I discovered that peeling them raw (also cleaning crab) causes my hands to hurt and get a rash. My husband started doing the work for me until someone saw him cleaning my crab for me and asked why I would put something in my stomach if I wouldn't touch it. So I started paying attention to my body's reaction to shellfish and noticed I usually get an upset stomach and headache. When I eat crab my whole mouth gets irritated, my lips feel like they're chapped. So I stopped eating any shellfish for a year.

After a year, which was 6 months into my gluten free diet, I thought I'd try them again, in case it was connected to my gluten consumption (as some food problems are) and ate a big plate of shrimp (didn't handle them first). I didn't notice a problem so a couple of weeks later had some crab. Bad idea. Bad stomach ache, a headache that felt like burning acid sloshing around in my head, and my lips were raw. Two weeks later I tried canned smoked oysters from the health food store and same reaction as the crab. So I threw in the towel.

Allergies can get worse, either slowly or really fast, one day you're fine, the next day you're in the ER with anaphalactic shock. So I would recommend you procede with caution, if you choose to continue eating shellfish at all. Does this happen with other shellfish? Believe me, this was a huge bummer for me, I love shellfish!!! I have also been informed that shellfish allergy is not the kind of thing that would resolve after gluten has been removed, like lactose intolerance, etc.

Take care

Stephanie

[tarnalberry]

Sorry about moaning on. I do have a question. I've developed an allergy to raw prawns recently. If I touch them I get hive-type spots and the itchy spots I've already got on my hands go bezerk. Once they're cooked they seem to be ok though - no itching. I haven't noticed any problems from eating them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most of the time, on-ship, raw crustaceans are treated with... I forget exactly what it is, but it's go iodine, as I recall, which might be part of the problem. I would encourage you to get tested for a shellfish allergy, but if that doesn't turn up and you don't have symptoms from eating them, it may simply be that you need to wear gloves.