DS sudden extreme itchy/tingly mouth/lips from salmon

[Itchymouth23]

My 11 year old son’s favourite food is salmon. The last two times he has eaten it he has developed extreme itching and tingling in his mouth and on his lips. He said it feels like it is attacking his mouth in the same way pineapple does (I never knew pineapple did this until now!).

It’s not a new food, he usually eats salmon maybe once every week with no I’ll effects, apart from the last couple of times. I’ve given him an anti histamine and the itching has stopped.

Could it be a kind of allergic reaction? Or would he have had symptoms earlier If it was?

Allergies can develop at any time so it could be that.

it could be something the salmon was cooked in rather than the salmon itself though.

I think this may be Oral Allergy Syndrome because I get it with pineapple, kiwi and sometimes strawberries. I always worried it might eventually result in anaphylactic shock so I’ve been a bit wary about eating them. Full disclaimer- No medical background and received no diagnosis for myself.

Sounds like an allergic reaction to me. AFAIK Allergies don't always come on at first contact with a food.
Is it fresh salmon, because if not he could be allergic to something in the prep eg if tinned a different oil from usual etc or if smoked it could be chemically "smoked" rather traditional smoked.

Sounds like an allergy. I enjoyed seafood to the ripe old age of 24, when I suddenly developed a hideous allergy to shellfish.

I get this from kiwi, now I know it’s fairly easy to avoid as kiwi isn’t in many things

My son developed oral allergy syndrome - to apples, peaches and plums weird as he had eaten them with no problems before!

I also get that from kiwi - sounds like he has an allergy to pineapple if he describes the same thing when eating that!

Allergic reaction. If he develops swelling of lips, face, tongue then 999. Have antihistamines on hand always at home just in case.

Be careful with cross reactivity with other types of foods (good table on this link for oral allergy cross reactivity).

https://www.londonallergyconsultants.co.uk/oral-allergy-syndrome

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergies/#:~:text=Immediate%20action%20required%3A%20Call%20999,have%20trouble%20breathing%20or%20talking

I get something like this with poached or baked salmon - not smoked, weirdly. Plus walnuts and plums. For me it's never really progressed, but better safe than sorry...

Sounds like angio edema.

Could it be something in the processing or packaging. Or in whatever they are feeding the salmon. Might be worth trying different suppliers etc

It was fresh salmon but I cooked it in the air fryer with baby potatoes and olive oil spray

i knew he didn’t like pineapple but I didn’t know pineapple made his mouth itchy etc, I just presumed he didn’t like it so he didn’t eat it.
Autistic household so he may have just presumed I knew pineapple did this to him! He mentioned the pineapple as if it was common knowledge that pineapple did this.

He spent a few minutes after starting to eat talking about pineapple, saying that it felt like pineapple was there. I reassured him that there was no pineapple in his food. He then explained the itching etc saying it was like pineapple felt, not that it tasted like pineapple.

Food allergies are on the rise. Levels of acquired allergies are increasing and are going to be a massive problem in the coming future. They already are a huge problem and this country doesn't have nearly enough specialists in allergy the number is extremely low.

You can develop an allergy to a food or substance at any time. As already said it might be what the salmon is cooked in/with or packaged in.

Pineapple can feel tingly if you eat the core. Sorry, not much help with this situation, but just to explain what I think the OP’s DS means.

Fish allergies often develop later in life than things like milk or egg allergy. So it’s entirely possible that he has developed a fish allergy. He should see the GP for a referral and testing.

I am allergic to fish, especially oily fish. If fish makes contact with his skin elsewhere, what's it like? Does it burn? Or does feel itchy at the point of contact and break out in hives? My allergy is incredibly itchy, but is not limited to just my mouth.

If it only affects his mouth then it's likely to be what other posters are suggesting, and not a general fish allergy. I used to be able to eat a lot of fish until around age 8-11. I cannot eat any fish, only maybe canned tuna.

It sounds like oral allergy syndrome. A couple of years ago I randomly developed it too. Any kind of raw fruit (or peppers and tomatoes) make my mouth, throat and lips itch like crazy for about 20 mins. It’s annoying but for me hasn’t progressed into anything dangerous. Apparently it can be linked to other allergies like hayfever

I didn't realise till I was 40 that it wasn't normal for peoples mouths to itch and burn when they ate kiwi . The penny only dropped when my son was diagnosed with OAS (sometimes called food pollen syndrome)

People can develop new allergies at any time though. Even to things they were previously fine with.

I would ask for allergy testing and avoid salmon in the meantime, the next reaction could be more serious.

I know someone who carries an epipen for haddock allergy

Yes that's definitely allergy symptoms. See the GP and ask for a referral to paediatric allergy.

Sensitivity to kiwi and pineapple can mean a latex allergy btw. I didn't know this till yesterday when I had surgery and the dr who operated used latex sterile gloves and I came out in hives.

I also have the pineapple allergy. Before I knew I was allergic I ate a few pieces of dried pineapple resulting in a fast trip to hospital and a 24 hour stay. I have a few other food sensitivities but that was the worst. Seems to be quite common reading this thread.