Allergy to caviar and other unusual allergies

14.07.2017
In this age of fast paced life, you won’t surprise anyone with a variety of allergic reactions. Manifestations in the form of spots, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, redness and pain in the eyes, difficulty breathing are familiar to many residents. The reaction when communicating with representatives of the animal world, during the flowering period of herbs and when eating foods is considered common.

Allergenic foods include citrus fruits, dairy products, whole cow's milk, nuts and different types of fish. Allergy to red caviar is common.

Causes of allergies

Red caviar is a fairly strong allergen. Reasons why a product causes a reaction in the body may include:

• Protein contained in its composition. It is the protein that makes up the bulk of the caviar;
• Food additives that manufacturers can add to caviar. Among them are: methenamine, sorbic acid;
• Toxins formed in the product due to improper storage conditions or expired expiration date.

If the cause of the allergy lies precisely in the composition of the shrimp, then the person needs to make sure that there is no intolerance to other types of seafood, such as fish, shrimp, crabs, mussels, etc.

It is important to remember that no type of heat treatment of caviar reduces its allergic properties.

At-risk groups

As a rule, people who often eat it are allergic to red caviar, as well as to other types of products. That is, we can conclude that the risk group includes residents of those countries where sea food predominates.

The second risk group includes people who already have some type of allergy, as well as those whose close relatives are intolerant to red caviar.

In addition, the risk of allergies is increased in people with weakened immune systems, so you should be careful when consuming the product:

• Children;
• Pregnant and lactating women. There is a risk of allergies in a fetus or child feeding on breast milk;
• Persons with diseases of the cardiovascular system: ischemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension;
• Persons with kidney disease;
• Persons with high cholesterol levels.

This does not mean that those who do not fall into any of the listed categories are 100% protected from red caviar allergy, but the risk will be lower.

How to treat allergies?

There is no panacea for this disease, although scientists are actively working on it. Pollen allergies are already quite successfully treated. The only way to avoid reactions to caviar is to exclude it from your diet. Perhaps over time the body will be rebuilt and will be able to perceive this product.

In a child, for example, by the age of seven, the body can begin to perceive fish products normally. For adults, it is better to try to avoid fish dishes and smells. Black caviar, on the contrary, can relieve allergy attacks, so it is completely safe. But it is still better not to use it for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Features of the pathology and symptoms

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to eaten caviar may vary in each individual case.

In adults

The immune system in adults always has individual characteristics, so the nature of allergies can vary greatly.

Possible symptoms include:

• Rash. This can be either ordinary small spots or bulging blisters;
• Redness of the skin;
• The appearance of swelling. It can be expressed both on the skin and mucous membranes;
• Severe itching;
• Flatulence and diarrhea;
• Pain in the abdominal area;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Signs of a runny nose: runny nose or, conversely, nasal congestion;
• Dyspnea.

A rash is a symptom of an allergy to red caviar.
The most serious variants of the reaction may be:

• Quincke's edema, which results in severe swelling of the airways, which can lead to suffocation;
• Anaphylactic shock. This is the body’s reaction to an allergen, expressed in a complete disruption of the central circulation, which without timely assistance leads to death.

If any of the listed symptoms occur, you need to stop eating caviar and begin treatment.

In childhood

An allergy to red caviar is just as likely to occur in a child as in adults. At the same time, it can be even more complicated, since the immune system develops gradually and in childhood it is more susceptible to various kinds of irritants. That is why it is recommended to introduce children to new foods gradually in small portions. This is the only way to determine whether there is a reaction to it or not.

Red caviar in children is also included in the list of main allergens along with honey, eggs, citrus fruits, dairy products, and cocoa. Symptoms of the reaction are similar to those seen in adults, but due to a weaker immune system, they occur and progress more quickly.

The peculiarity of allergies in children, including to caviar, is that as they grow older and the body’s natural defenses develop, they can disappear on their own.

Allergic reaction to caviar: causes, symptoms and what to do

For a person to be healthy, he is protected by the immune system, consisting of a system of cells, tissues and organs. The immune system promptly identifies and neutralizes pathogenic substances that cause illnesses.

Allergy refers to a kind of malfunction of the immune system , in which even the most harmless substances can become allergens and are assessed as a threat to health.

Depending on what caused such a negative reaction of the defense forces, the immunological pathology can be food, household, medicinal, respiratory, etc.

In everyday life, intolerance to any consumer product most often occurs. It’s worth looking at this in more detail.

Both animal and plant foods can provoke a reaction. Most allergy triggers are protein substances.

Seafood is considered a favorite dish for many people, and such delicacies as salmon and sturgeon caviar have always graced the festive table.

Despite the unconditional usefulness of caviar, which allows you to restore energy, improve metabolism and even prevent cancer, it is one of the most dangerous allergens for human health. The reason lies in a special protein parvalbumin , which is not thermally destroyed and can provoke a reaction even when inhaled. It has been established that the allergenicity of red caviar is higher than black caviar.

Causes and who is at increased risk?

It is relevant that cases of allergy to caviar are most frequent in areas where the population lives by fishing, and seafood is present in the daily diet. There is increased sensitivity even to the smell when cooking seafood.

The causes of caviar intolerance may be the following factors:

• Excessive consumption of the product.
• Predisposition along a genetic line.
• Unfavorable environmental conditions.
• Weakened immunity.
• Individual intolerance.

Symptoms and how to recognize the disease in time?

When exposed to an allergen, the body begins to send distress signals:

• The skin turns red and becomes covered with itchy rashes of various types and locations.
• There are difficulties with breathing.
• Unpleasant sensations in the nasolabial area.
• There are disturbances in the digestive process.

In especially severe cases, the process can take life-threatening forms - anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema .

Why does allergy in children require special attention? Undoubtedly, due to its imperfection and increased sensitivity, the child’s body is most vulnerable to allergies. Any mother, in a good desire to feed her beloved child something nutritious and the best, like caviar, does not always understand how dangerous such “care” can turn out to be.

The disease in children has a more severe course with characteristic symptoms:

• Quick reaction after contact with an irritant.
• Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea.
• Feelings of burning and swelling of the tongue.
• The baby is breathing heavily, his face is turning blue.
• The skin takes on the appearance of dry eczema.
• Arterial hypotension.

Treatment and how to help the victim?

First aid for both adults and children is to immediately expel the allergen. To do this, gastric lavage is performed, then the patient is given sorbents ( activated carbon , Smecta , Sorbex , etc.).

The next step is to start treatment with antihistamine medications.

Currently, the pharmacy chain has a large selection of advanced anti-allergenic medications such as Erius , Cetrin , Zodak , Loratadine , etc.

More serious cases require constant monitoring by an allergist, the prescription of hormonal drugs, immunomodulators, a set of tests, studies and strict adherence to a diet.

Life-threatening situations require immediate medical intervention, calling an ambulance and hospitalization.

Trying to use traditional medicine for treatment in this case is not only useless, but can also cost a person’s life.

How to buy a quality product and stay healthy?

In order to prevent food poisoning, you should approach the choice of fish caviar responsibly. Most often, the seafood delicacy is sold packaged in convenient tin or glass jars, which allows you to stock up on the product in advance. Glass packaging simplifies the choice, but is more expensive. High-quality canned food in metallized packaging has the following characteristics:

1. Tin containers without dents or blisters.
2. The inscription on the label is clear and detailed (composition, weight, grade, manufacturer, GOST or TU);
3. The date of manufacture is embossed or painted on the lid of the jar with permanent paint.
4. A responsible manufacturer values ​​​​its reputation and fills the container completely with the product.
5. The eggs in the jar are the same size, integrity is preserved. Sturgeon caviar is characterized by a gray-black color, while salmon caviar is orange-red and has a slight bitter taste.
6. After opening the package, seafood must be consumed no later than 1-2 days at a temperature range of -3 to -6 degrees, placing it in a glass container.

The product by weight should be purchased at trusted retail outlets and private traders should be ignored. Such caviar should have an appetizing appearance without dry or damaged eggs, and the smell should not be repulsive.

In addition to the above, it is worth remembering that a high-quality product cannot have a low price.

If you receive a negative reaction to caviar from the salmon or sturgeon family, you should exercise caution before tasting the caviar of capelin, pollock, catfish and other commercial species.

People who are hypersensitive to fish roe should exclude it from their diet and also be careful when consuming seafood in general.

It is worth introducing your baby to seafood only from the age of 8 months, starting with fish complementary foods to other dishes. There is no place for caviar on the menu for children under 3 years of age.

Comprehensively armed with the acquired knowledge, a trip to the supermarket for red or black caviar has every chance of being successful, and tasting seafood delicacies at a festive feast will bring only pleasure and regret.

Source: https://allergiyas.ru/allergicheskaya-reakciya-na-ikru-prichiny-simptomy-i-chto-delat/

Diagnostics

Modern medicine makes it possible not to guess what exactly an allergic reaction occurred to, but to determine the exact irritant with high accuracy. If a person suspects that his body is intolerant to red caviar, he can seek help from a doctor. He will be prescribed the following diagnostic measures:

• Blood analysis. It will allow you to determine whether a reaction is currently present in the body. This may be indicated by an increased value of eosinophils;
• Application of samples. The procedure involves making shallow scratches on the patient's body, usually on the arms, and then applying concentrated allergens in very small doses. If the site of application of any irritant turns red, swollen or begins to itch, then this fact indicates the presence of an allergy to this particular component.

A blood test is a method for diagnosing an allergy to red caviar.
Once the presence of an allergy is identified, the doctor will suggest the most suitable treatment option.

Diagnosis of allergy to red caviar

If it is difficult to independently diagnose an allergic reaction, you should consult a specialist

It is possible to figure out what product an allergic reaction occurred to if you carefully monitor your diet. If you find it difficult to independently diagnose an allergic reaction, you should consult a specialist. An allergist will prescribe diagnostic methods to make a diagnosis. Prescribed:

• general blood analysis;
• immunoglobulin E analysis;
• allegro tests.

To conduct allergy tests, a specialist scratches or pricks with a lancet and applies the allergen in microdoses to the affected area. The test results will not be long in coming. If redness appears at the injection site, an allergy is present.

There are four samples in total:

• food allergens;
• pollen allergens;
• dust allergens;
• allergens of animal origin.

This will help you avoid unwanted foods or animals that should be avoided.

Therapy methods

The peculiarity of allergies is that it is completely impossible to cure. Using various measures, you can alleviate the existing symptoms during an attack or reduce the severity of the body's reaction to the stimulus.

A patient with an allergic reaction to caviar must receive treatment. Since it is very difficult to predict the 100% absence of complications, for example, Quincke's edema. The following groups of drugs can help eliminate existing symptoms:

• Antihistamines. They allow you to block the action of histamines, which are the main cause of unpleasant symptoms: rash, suffocation, runny nose, etc.;
• Sorbents. They are taken to cleanse the body of toxins, which allows it to recover faster after an attack;
• Prednisolone. This is a hormonal drug that quickly fights the manifestations of an allergic reaction.

In terms of choosing medications, it is best to completely trust the doctor, who can choose the most suitable option based on the characteristics of the allergic reaction and the patient’s medical history.

The role of diet in treatment

In addition to the basic treatment of allergies, the patient will be offered a diet. It is necessary so that the body can better resist allergens and recover faster.

In the case of an allergy to red caviar, the diet will involve avoiding the following foods:

• Red caviar. This is the most important rule. Only by refusing to consume the main irritant can one hope for the absence of allergic reactions in the future;
• Seafood. Their similar composition to caviar can cause unpleasant symptoms;
• Sushi, rolls and other seafood dishes. There is a high probability that they may contain caviar. It is best to check their composition before consuming such dishes.

If you are allergic to red caviar, you should avoid seafood.
But that's not all. If the patient intends to completely protect the body from allergic reactions, he should eat hypoallergenic food. This means that foods such as honey, nuts, citrus fruits, and mushrooms are best avoided or consumed in limited quantities.

Preventive measures

If a person does not have an allergy, but he has a risk for it, for example, due to a hereditary factor, he should adhere to certain preventive measures. They include:

• Rejection of bad habits;
• Strengthening the immune system;
• Compliance with the principles of a healthy and preferably hypoallergenic diet;
• Maximum possible exclusion from the diet of foods close to the allergen. In this case, seafood.

If an allergy to the red spark has already manifested itself, then the only effective way to prevent attacks is to completely avoid it.

Symptoms of the disease

An allergy to this product appears immediately after eating caviar. Very rarely a delayed reaction. As a rule, immediately after eating a person begins to experience discomfort. They may manifest differently in each individual patient.

Signs of a negative reaction:

1. Severe nausea, vomiting;
2. Swelling of the nasopharynx, tongue;
3. Tingling in the mouth;
4. Skin rashes such as eczema, urticaria or diathesis;
5. Decreased blood pressure;
6. Possible increase in temperature;
7. Diarrhea, abdominal pain;
8. Quincke's edema, anaphylaxis.

Important: manifestations of allergies can be deadly, so you must call an ambulance without delay. Because in this case you simply cannot do without the help of qualified specialists.

In addition to providing first aid, the patient is recommended to undergo laboratory tests and studies to determine the exact cause of the disease. Allergens can only be identified under special conditions.