Any food has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. Fish, including tuna fish, is one of the eight most common food allergens. Unfortunately, a child allergic to tuna fish is unlikely to outgrow her allergy; this type of food allergy often persists into adulthood. If you suspect that your child is allergic to tuna fish, avoid it and take her to an allergist for testing and confirmation.
Food Allergies
Food allergies affect approximately 6 percent of children, says the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, or AAAAI. When a child is allergic to tuna fish, exposure causes his body to react as though the tuna is a harmful substance, by releasing histamines which cause an allergic reaction. A food allergy, or immune response, is different from a food intolerance. If your child is intolerant of tuna, he may be able to eat a small amount of it without having any symptoms. With an allergy, eating even a very small amount causes a reaction.
Tuna Fish Allergy Symptoms
A child allergic to tuna fish begins to show symptoms within a few minutes to a few hours after eating or being exposed to the tuna. Symptoms might include oral tingling or itching, difficulty breathing, facial or oral swelling, hives, a rash, vomiting, diarrhea or fainting. If your child has a severe allergy, she may go into anaphylactic shock. This is a life-threatening condition that can cause the throat to swell enough to impede breathing, and her blood pressure to drop dangerously low. Symptoms of anaphylaxis warrant emergency medical care.
Inhaled Tuna Protein
According to Dr. Phil Lieberman of the AAAAI, inhalation of fish protein released during cooking can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. If your highly allergic child is exposed to fumes from heated fish or tuna fish, he might go into anaphylactic shock. For this reason, it may be necessary to avoid restaurants which serve foods such as tuna melts or tuna noodle casserole, and to let friends and family members know about your child's severe allergy before visiting.
Management
The best way to manage a severe allergy is to avoid exposure to the allergen. Read labels carefully, and avoid foods that list fish oils or fish protein in the ingredients list. Ask your child's allergist whether other types of fish are likely to cause a cross-reaction if your child is allergic to tuna. If she has suffered an anaphylactic reaction in the past, her allergist may give you an epi-pen, which is an injectable form of epinephrine. At the first sign of oral swelling, wheezing or other anaphylactic symptoms, inject the epinephrine and call 911. Until your child is old enough to carry and administer her own epinephrine, you must make sure that all caregivers are aware of her condition and know how to use the emergency medication if necessary.
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