Shellfish Allergy
Shellfish Allergy Testing & Treatment
NYC Food Allergy Doctor – Dr. Dean Mitchell
Telehealth Meetings Available for Shellfish Allergy Treatment
One of the most common food allergies, particularly among adults, is shellfish allergy which can include allergic reactions to both crustaceans (shrimp, crab, and lobster) and mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters, and squid). And this condition can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening reactions.
Preventing a shellfish allergy reaction has historically involved strict avoidance of food products containing shellfish proteins. With new advances in medical treatments, we can now treat your shellfish allergy so you don’t have to be so vigilant about avoiding shellfish.
How We Treat Shellfish Allergies
At Mitchell Medical Group, we can use a combination of XOLAIR, the only FDA-approved treatment proven to reduce allergic reactions to foods, and sublingual allergy drops to treat shellfish allergies.
Xolair is a drug approved by the FDA that helps people aged one and older with food allergies. It greatly reduces the chance of having severe allergic reactions, like anaphylaxis, when accidentally exposed to different food allergens. The drug’s safety and effectiveness were proven in a top-quality medical study called a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Sublingual allergy drops not only target the symptoms of allergies but rather eradicate the underlying condition by helping your body build up a tolerance to the allergen(s) causing your symptoms to shellfish.
Symptoms of Shellfish Allergy
Reactions for a shellfish allergy range from mild symptoms such as hives or a stuffy nose to severe and even life-threatening symptoms. And just because you react one way to one type of shellfish doesn’t mean you’ll respond the same way to others. You may only react to one type of shellfish or you could react to all types.
The most common symptoms include:
- Hives or rash
- Itching or tingling in the mouth
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other body parts
- Nasal congestion or trouble breathing
- Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Dizziness, fainting, or a rapid heartbeat
- Weak pulse
- Tightness in throat, hoarse voice
- Pale or blue coloring of the skin
Severe reactions can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. Anaphylaxis symptoms include difficulty breathing, severe drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and rapid or weak pulse. If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms after eating shellfish, book an appointment with Dr. Mitchell today to get an allergy test.
How We Test for & Diagnosis a Shellfish Allergy
Diagnosing shellfish allergies can be complicated as symptoms can vary from person to person and you may not always experience the same symptoms with every reaction. For over 20 years, Mitchell Medical Group has worked with patients with food allergies and we have a proven track record of not only diagnosing food allergies but helping our patients find relief.
Testing for Shellfish Allergy
We can utilize the following methods to identify if you have a shellfish allergy:
- Medical History and Symptom Review – we get a complete medical history including symptoms, what you ate, timing of the reaction, and previous health issues
- Allergy blood test – this test measures the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in response to shellfish proteins.
- Component testing for food allergies
- BAT (basophil activation testing) – a blood test that assesses the degree of sensitivity to a food; it’s goal is to replace the need for oral food challenges
When getting tested for a shellfish allergy, be prepared to answer detailed questions about the history of your allergy symptoms. These questions will be about what and how much you ate, how long it took for symptoms to develop, which symptoms you experienced, and how long the symptoms lasted. The more detailed information we can collect, in addition to testing, the easier it is for Dr. Mitchell to determine if you are suffering from a shellfish allergy.
Blood tests for food allergies measure the IgE antibody levels for specific foods, with results usually ready in one to two weeks. Dr. Mitchell, a board-certified allergist, interprets these results to help diagnose the allergy. However, these tests alone aren’t conclusive; a positive result doesn’t always mean you’ll react to the food, and a negative result is more reliable for ruling out an allergy. For a definite diagnosis, Dr. Mitchell may perform an oral food challenge, where you eat increasing amounts of the suspected food under strict supervision with emergency support available.
Shellfish Allergy Treatment with Sublingual Allergy Immunotherapy
Our treatment for shellfish allergies can start with XOLAIR, which protects you against the most severe allergic reactions to shellfish, and sublingual allergy drops or sublingual allergy immunotherapy. Sublingual allergy immunotherapy helps you get true desensitization from your shellfish allergy.
Sublingual allergy immunotherapy (SLIT) treats shellfish allergies by regularly giving you small amounts of the shellfish allergen. This process helps build up the body’s tolerance to the allergen. Over time, the amount of the allergen is gradually increased, with the goal of desensitizing the body to larger quantities.
This method reduces the risk of severe allergic reactions from accidental exposures and improves your quality of life. SLIT retrains the immune system to respond less aggressively to the shellfish allergen, decreasing the likelihood of adverse reactions.
The beauty of this therapy is that it is truly a natural treatment as you are receiving a substance that you are allergic to and allowing your immune system to solve the problem. Using your immune system as a barrier to allergens is the optimal solution for long-lasting results. The goal is to develop life-long immunity to your shellfish allergy and be free of medications.
Patient Testimonials
I have been seeing Dr. Dean Mitchell for over a year now for pain management, and treatment. He has been incredibly kind and knowledgeable from the start, he takes time to listen and has gone above and beyond in regards to my health. The excellent care I have received at Mitchell Medical Care Group has helped to reduce and improve symptoms of pain I have struggled with for years, and the warm presence of the staff constantly make me feel welcome in the office.
Dr Mitchell and his staff are excellent! I have been a patient for many years , too many to count . The staff has always been extremely helpful . Dr Mitchell was able to get me past , prior to seeing him, many seasons of allergies colds and asthma . With his help and advice I no longer stress about colds and allergies because I know I am in good hands .
My son has been a patient of Dr. Dean Mitchell for the past fifteen months. He has been allergic to wheat and dairy since birth. His wheat allergy is very high and my wife and I have been researching for years how we can help him so he does not have an anaphylactic reaction due to exposure. We did our research and discovered Mitchell Medical Group. Mitchell Medical Group is one of the only practices in NY that offers sublingual immunotherapy treatment (SLIT).
SLIT is safe, effective and very convenient, especially for teenagers, like my son. After 15 months of treatment, his numbers have come down a bit and we have seen progress. Dr. Dean is fantastic with my son and is always willing to spend time and answer any questions we might have.
I highly recommend Mitchell Medical Group.
To start, the staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. The office is clean, the appointments are on time. Dr Dean Mitchell is fantastic, compassionate and truly looks for a cure/relief for his patients. He is also open minded and willing to go outside the box and does not let his ego get in the way of what is best for his patients. Other Dr's could learn a lot from this wonderful man
I love, love, love Dr. Dean Mitchell. He is no ordinary doctor - he listens. He doesn’t treat symptoms, he treats causes. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
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57 W 57th St, Suite 601
New York, NY 10019
Rockville Centre
165 North Village Avenue, Suite 129
Rockville Centre, NY 11570