Tuna fish is popular and loved by many. However, tuna fish can result in an allergy. Tuna fish allergy is caused due to the proteins present in the fish. The immune system mistakenly identifies the proteins as harmful and reacts against them. This results in various allergic reactions such as hives, rashes and diarrhea etc. People with tuna fish allergy can also be allergic to other fish and shellfish too.
Symptoms of Tuna Fish Allergy:
Following are the symptoms of tuna fish allergy:
- Rashes
- Hives
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Antihistamines and topical corticosteroids can help in relieving the allergy symptoms.
In rare cases, tuna fish can lead to breathlessness, dizziness, and low blood pressure. These are the symptoms of anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction. In case of these symptoms, the patient should be administered epinephrine to prevent further complications.
Prevention of Tuna Fish Allergy:
Here are a few tips for allergy prevention:
- Always read the labels while buying food products. Avoid the products which have fish as an ingredient
- Avoid cross-contamination while cooking fish. Keep the other utensils free from fish residue
- Inquire about the ingredients while eating out
- In restaurants where they cook fish, be careful of cross-contamination
- Even the fumes from the fish-cooked food can cause allergies
- Always carry an epinephrine to prevent anaphylaxis
Tuna fish allergy testing:
Blood test (RAST) and skin prick tests can be conducted to check if you have fish allergy. After testing, your allergist can give you allergy medications to relieve the allergy symptoms.
If you are allergic to tuna fish, you might also be allergic to other fish, shellfish and other seafood. Allergy testing can help in determining and prevention of fish allergy.
