Seafood Anaphylaxis Patterns Vary by Age, Sex, and Region

TOPLINE:

Seafood-induced anaphylaxis was not uncommon and showed distinct patterns across age groups and regions. Shellfish reactions have increased in Europe and occur more often in adults, whereas fish reactions are more common in children. Adrenaline to treat anaphylaxis remains underused, researchers reported.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers collected data from a large cohort of patients between January 2007 and March 2023, spanning centers in Brazil and 11 countries in Europe.
• A total of 5238 cases of food-induced anaphylaxis were documented, with seafood-induced reactions confirmed in 462 cases (316 with shellfish and 146 with fish).
• Healthcare professionals collected data using a standardized questionnaire and documented skin and mucosal reactions as well as respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms.

TAKEAWAY:

• Shellfish were a leading cause of food-induced anaphylaxis in Mediterranean countries, triggering 18% of cases in Italy and 14% in Spain. Fish-induced reactions were most common in Greece (4.4%), followed by Germany (3.3%) and Spain (3.1%).
• Crustaceans — shrimps, crabs, lobsters, and crawfish — accounted for 82.9% of shellfish-induced reactions, with shrimps being the most frequent trigger (75.9%). Codfish elicited 41% of fish-induced anaphylaxis cases, followed by salmon (18%), tuna (8.2%), and trout (5.5%).
• Fish-induced anaphylaxis cases were more common in children.
• Shellfish-induced anaphylaxis predominantly affected adults (76%), particularly women (62%). Skin-related symptoms were the most common, appearing in 95% of cases, followed by respiratory symptoms (73%).
• Epinephrine was administered in 33% of cases among adults with shellfish-induced anaphylaxis.

IN PRACTICE:

“To improve patient outcomes, the broader dissemination of guidelines and increased awareness of recognizing seafood anaphylaxis and its triggers are essential,” the authors of the study wrote. 

SOURCE:

Margitta Worm, MD, with Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on August 6 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 

LIMITATIONS:

This study relied on data from specialty centers, which do not represent the entire population distribution of fish and shellfish allergies in a given country.

DISCLOSURES:

Several authors reported receiving research funding, honoraria, consultation fees, and travel support from pharmaceutical companies.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.