Fish Allergies

In recent years, the conventional wisdom is that the Americans consume too much meat in their diet. Public health officials have said that we should diversify our diet with dairy, vegetables and fish. Yet some Americans are allergic to fish and may be allergic to products that contain fish.

WebMD states that food products containing fish ingredients are: "Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauces made with Worcestershire; Caesar salad and Caesar dressing, caponata (Sicilian eggplant relish), caviar and fish roe; artificial fish like imitation crabmeat, and fish sauce, oils, and gelatin."I tell my patients that those who are allergic to fish, may only be allergic to only a certain type of fish. Some allergists feel that a fish allergic person should avoid fish altogether, but that person may feel that he or she should be allowed to eat other types of fish in their diet. They can ask their allergist to test them for their specific fish allergy.The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) website states that after your allergist tests you for your particular fish allergy "take extra precautions to avoid cross-contact (when two foods come into contact with each other and their proteins mix) when purchasing fish from a market or when dining out."Typical symptoms of fish allergies, like other food allergies, may include: nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy/runny nose, sneezing, headaches, and asthma. Yet some people are so sensitive to fish allergies, that merely touching fish or being in an area where it is being cooked can provoke a severe anaphylactic response. People that are so allergic adverse are advised to carry an epien (epinephrine injector) with them and to avoid fish contaminated areas.For further information: http://www.nycallergydoctor.com/allergy