Hello doctor, I am 51 years old. I had a severe allergic reaction when I was 7 years old, after eating a crab meat sandwich. It was made with canned crab meat, and I cannot be sure if it was real or artificial. I found large round red hives all over my body, which turned to rings before healing. I never ate crab or lobster since then. I have always eaten shrimp, scallops, clams, and many other types of seafood without issue. I continue to wonder if my allergy all those years ago was a crab meat allergy. I have been avoiding crab and lobster for no reason. Does all seafood belong to the the same family?
Hello. Allergy reaction is due to a specific particular protein or substance. Each group has a different type of protein. It varies from each. There are several types of shellfish, each containing different proteins like crustaceans include crabs, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, and prawn. Mollusks include squid, snails, clams, oysters, and scallops. Some people are allergic to only one type of shellfish but can eat others. Other people with shellfish allergy must avoid all seafood. So one may need not get an allergy to all group and family.