Is it possible to develop a food allergy as an adult? On two separate occasions in the last few months, I've developed bad stomach pains and itchy hives after eating shellfish. This has never happened before.
Answer
from James T. Li, M.D.
Symptoms such as you describe may indicate a food allergy and shouldn't be ignored. Until you talk to your doctor, avoid eating any type of shellfish.
While most food allergies start in childhood, they can develop at any time in a person's life. So it's possible to develop a food allergy as an adult. It's not clear why or how this happens, but all allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance as a dangerous invader. When you eat the food you're allergic to, the immune system releases symptom-causing substances such as histamine. Food allergy signs and symptoms can include:
* Constriction and tightening of airways
* A swollen throat or a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe
* Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
* Rapid pulse
* Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
To read the full article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/
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