Mussel Allergy Test in Panchanan Tala, Kolkata

Mussels belong to one of the most prevalent food allergy groups -- shellfish. Mollusks and crustaceans are the two types of shellfish. Many people with one kind of shellfish allergy are also allergic to the others.

A mussel allergy usually triggers a response from tne immune system. The body perceives certain compounds as hazardous, prompting the production of IgE antibodies against them. These antibodies trigger the production of histamine, which results in allergic reactions.

The mussel allergy test detects an allergy to mussels by measuring the number of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the bloodstream.

Symptoms of a shellfish allergy vary from person to person, ranging from minor to severe responses that can occur minutes to an hour after contact. Some of the common signs of a mussel allergy are:

• Congestion, difficulty breathing, or wheezing.
• Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting.
• Hives, itching, or eczema are examples of skin reactions.
• Pain in the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhoea, or nausea.
• Swelling of face, lips, ears, tongue, throat, fingers, or hands.
• Tingling sensation in the mouth.

Anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic response, can also develop in complicated situations. An anaphylactic reaction due to mussel allergy requires prompt medical intervention. Some symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

• A quick pulse.
• Swollen throat causing difficulty breathing.
• A significant decline in blood pressure.
• Extreme dizziness or unconsciousness.

Further, a shellfish allergy can raise the risk of anaphylaxis in the following situations:

• The individual has asthma.
• The individual is allergic to relatively small quantities of shellfish.
• The person has a history of food-related anaphylaxis.

The only definite way to avoid a reaction to shellfish allergy is to avoid shellfish of any type altogether. Regardless, you might come into contact with shellfish anyway. Therefore, your doctor may advise you to treat a minor allergic response to shellfish using antihistamines to minimize signs and symptoms such as rashes and itching.

Nevertheless, the first step to conquering any allergy is to figure out if you have it or not. You must take the Mussel allergy test to determine if you have a Mussel allergy.

It can be tough to find a Mussel allergy test. Apollo 24|7 offers this test on their website. Those who want to take the test simply log onto the website and book it for a time that suits them.

However, if you experience a severe anaphylactic response due to Mussel allergy, you will likely require an emergency epinephrine injection (adrenaline). If you are at an increased risk of having a severe response, you should have injectable epinephrine like an EpiPen with you at all times.

Further, your healthcare provider can also advise you to use epinephrine even at the smallest of reactions.

Moreover, seek medical attention even after having received the epinephrine injection. This is because untreated symptoms of a shellfish allergy can often cause underlying, long-term issues. 

Medically reviewed by Dr Jatin Ahuja, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha, South Delhi.