“Study Finds 11 Allergens in Shrimp, CUHK Invites Patients to Conduct Research for Alleviating Allergic Reactions”

Prawns, crabs, lobsters, oysters, scallops, etc. are foods that many people with seafood allergies dare not touch. Even if they just take a bite, the lips will become red and swollen, and the severe ones will cause dizziness and shock. However, at present, patients can only use passive preventive methods to avoid eating. Once they are allergic, they must take or inject drugs to save themselves. A study by the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK found that there are 11 allergens related to shrimp allergies in giant shrimp. If the allergens can be accurately diagnosed, it is expected to eliminate allergic reactions. CUHK invites patients with seafood allergies to conduct research, and hopes to find ways to alleviate allergic reactions for those who are allergic to shrimp, so that patients can enjoy the taste of seafood again with peace of mind.

Leung Ting-Hsun, Professor of Pediatrics at the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Charity Foundation, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, pointed out in an exclusive interview with Yahoo News that patients with allergic reactions to seafood can be divided into two categories, including shellfish allergies, such as oysters and scallops and allergies to crustaceans such as shrimp, crab, lobster. In general, fewer people are allergic to shellfish than to crustaceans.

Allergy symptoms have a chance to disappear before the age of five

This kind of allergic reaction is related to heredity. If parents, brothers or sisters have this kind of gene in the family history, the chance of suffering from allergic reaction is four times higher than that of ordinary people. The cause of allergies may also be that the immature immune system of the child may cause the immune system to react incorrectly when exposed to a certain food, resulting in an allergic reaction when encountering this food in the future.

Liang Tingxun said that allergic reactions may disappear as children grow up. For example, if they are allergic to fish at the age of two or three, they may disappear at the age of five, but at this time they may have allergic reactions to peanuts and nuts. Allergic symptoms that do not disappear at the age of one year are more likely to persist.

Hypersensitivity reaction severe

According to Professor Liang, the patient may have an allergic reaction to one or more types of seafood, and if they eat it accidentally, the patient’s skin will appear rash, and the eyes and lips will become red and swollen, or even edema. Gastrointestinal reactions may also occur, such as abdominal pain. In the most severe cases, the airways swell, leading to constriction of the trachea, dizziness, and eventually shock.

Doctors usually advise patients to carry some anti-allergic drugs or anti-allergic injections with them. If patients feel allergic reactions, they should take them or inject them immediately. Shock will cause the body to lack oxygen. If the lack of oxygen lasts for half an hour, there will be Life is in danger.

Professor Liang Tingxun added that patients can only use passive prevention methods to avoid contact with foods that cause allergic reactions as much as possible, but sometimes it is difficult to detect whether certain foods contain allergens. Therefore, if the patient can successfully remove the allergic reaction caused by the allergen, it is the most thorough approach.

Tiger prawns contain 11 allergens

The Faculty of Medicine of CUHK collaborated with Mahidol University and Samitivej Thonburi Hospital in Thailand to analyze 85 cases of shrimp allergy and use their serum samples to test the 11 allergens related to shrimp allergies in shrimp, found that even if they were also extracted from tiger prawns, there were differences in the main shrimp allergens prevalent in Hong Kong and Thailand, which may be related to the dietary habits and environments of different regions relevant.

Huang Yongjian, professor of pediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, said that the current diagnosis and treatment of shrimp allergy are still limited. One of the major challenges is to distinguish between patients with “complicated allergy” and “asymptomatic allergy”. If the allergen can be targeted for accurate diagnosis, the right medicine can be prescribed.

Shrimp-allergic patients recruited for immunotherapy study

CUHK recruits children or adults under the age of 60 who are allergic to shrimp or crustacean seafood. The number is not limited. Anyone who has an immediate allergic reaction such as urticaria, angioedema, wheezing, and anaphylactic shock within two hours can apply. The fee is free, and there will be a seafood allergy test report after completion. Applicants need to go to the Prince of Wales Hospital for physical examination, and draw about 8ml of blood for allergy blood test and skin prick test, and then arrange oral food challenge test according to the situation.

Eligible participants will be invited to participate in a clinical study of shrimp allergy immunotherapy. Wei Yixin, a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Chinese Medicine, told Yahoo News that if a participant is confirmed to be allergic to shrimp, he or she will be invited to participate in a clinical study of immunotherapy for shrimp allergy.

Wei Yixin explained that since many people in Hong Kong are allergic to shrimp, relevant groups will be selected first for research, and the participating patients will be injected with a DNA vaccine. This vaccine contains shrimp hypoallergenic allergen protein, which can induce the body to produce Immunity, reduce the patient’s sensitivity to shrimp from the root. She pointed out that patients will be vaccinated every two weeks for a total of three injections. During the injection process, medical staff will closely monitor the patient’s reaction to ensure safety. The observation period will last for about one year.

Ms. Lau has had an allergic reaction to shrimp since she was a child. She would avoid eating shrimp or food containing shrimp ingredients when she was eating out. She also brought anti-allergic drugs with her. Take your medicine right away. She admits that no matter how careful she is, sometimes she can’t prevent it. Once, during a foreign trip, she ate a big crab in Chinatown. She has never been allergic to crabs, but after eating that time, she developed allergic symptoms. He immediately went to the emergency department of the hospital for medical treatment, and has since become wary of eating crabs.

Ms. Liu said that when eating abroad, the waiters will always ask if they have food allergies, but few restaurants in Hong Kong do this, so they can only rely on themselves to be careful. She expressed that she is interested in participating in the research of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, and hopes that if the allergens can be eliminated, she will no longer have to worry about eating shrimp when going out for dinner.

Interested parties can contact the Allergy Department of CUHK by phone or WhatsApp 56149123, or visit the website https://www.allergycuhk.org.