Prawn allergic reaction, without even eating prawns?

[hazeyjane]

I don't eat prawns after an out of the blue allergic reaction to a prawn sandwich years ago

I went out for a meal last night with friends, both friends ordered dishes with prawns in before I arrived. Half way through the meal I started to get hives up my arm, and I started to feel wheezy. I couldn't work out why, and then noticed the prawns in their meals. I went home, took piriton, had my inhaler, but felt dreadful itchy up my arms and in my throat and groin(?!) and nauseous. I had more inhaler, and cetirizine and eventually it seemed to settle down.

It felt a lot worse than the last reaction I had, especially considering I hadn't even touched a prawn, unless there had been some cross contamination when cooking.

Also I feel rotten this morning, sore throat, like I have lead weights in my arms - is that from the reaction or have I come down with something coincidentally?!

Shellfish allergy is one of a group of allergens that can be carried in steam from kitchen cooking

It’s possible that with an open plan restaurant a table near the kitchen could receive some contamination from vapour

like wise if the food was hot to the table this could occur

Realistically you need to carry antihistamines with you particularly if eating out

Cross contamination is a very real possibility and even a kiss could contain enough allergen to cause a reaction

Shellfish allergies tend to be more serious so perhaps people eating with you need to consider whether they really need to eat this in your company

Ds has a severe shellfish allergy, as vegetarians we should be fine but we’ve still had contaminated pasta in the past, trust no one

Yep, as the PP said, it’s one of the few food allergies that can be airborne.

My specialist said that there was also a study under way into a link between more pronounced displays of shellfish allergies linked with alcohol intake, therefore more likely to get a reaction when in a restaurant. I know that’s the case for me, meaning that I always sit outside where possible if a restaurant has a long fish/shellfish menu. It’s not been properly proven yet, but the study is under way apparently.

DH, much to his dismay, can no longer order shellfish when I’m with him (hence he loves it when I’m away with work and he can go and eat prawns and crab to his hearts content).

Thankyou

Yes, I definitely need to carry antihistamines. I have only had a couple of reactions over the years, and none as bad as last night, so I guess I had a false sense of security.

That is interesting about it being airborne, one friend was quite dismissive, when I said I thought I was reacting to the prawns, as she said I couldn't possibly be wheezy without eating them.

Is it daft to have booked an appointment to see the dr, I am quite shaken up about how awful I felt.

No! Of course you should visit the doctor. Terrifying. He may prescribe epipens

Not daft at all, ds is on course to need epipens if he has more reactions, I already carry epipens for myself so recognise (as a nurse) the severity

Your description of how you felt the next day was indicative of quite a strong reaction that is appropriate to discuss with a gp

An interesting fact we found is that for some reason this allergy is often inherited from a female grand parent and if the child is male it is more often extremely severe

Ds’s paternal grandma had a shellfish allergy