Crab poisoning: Is there such a thing?

Crab and shrimp causes my brother to have an alergic reaction. He never had a problem until about 10 years ago and then BANG!!! A trip to the hospital.

Sometimes crab can be tanted by red tide algae but it's rair.

[skein]

My wife can eat some if it's absolutely fresh. If it sits in the fridge for even a day, it gets her. First time damn near scared me to death. I broke some land-speed records getting her to the hospital (we both still had our waders on). Now she keeps Benadryl handy, but pretty much stays away from crab. Restaurant prawns cause the same reaction, but to a lesser degree.

It's like O'City says, throat swells up, hives on the face, sick feeling. Nothing to mess with.

Skein

[Dr Strangelove]

And the diagnosis was...

probable SCOMBROID POISONING

When seafood goes through a delay between catch and eat, and crab is famous for it, there is a build up of bacteria (Scombroid species) that convert histadine to histamine, that when ingested causes severe allergic type reactions that may be interpreted as a true shellfish allergy.

Thus the comment that the wife can tolerate fresh crab but not when refridgerated for a few days. Not her fault, just bacterial biology. Teatment is antihistamines and if really life threatening, steroids/IV fluid.

This is not to say that if it's happened to you you should risk eating crab again, but if it was an isolated incident after a life of eating crab problem free, then it was ideed seafood poisoning in all liklihood.

Doc

Doc,
Brother can't be around when we cook crab! :shocked: All of the symptoms Skein described.

I also like to keep Benadryl handy.
I got a quillback rockfish spine in my knuckle when we were halibut fishing 60 miles from Ketchikan and had a bad reaction to it in less than a minute :shocked: . The Benadryl saved me. :smile:

[skein]

Thanks for the input, Doc, and here's the rest of the story.

That morning in camp we made a crab omlette for breakfast, cutting it in half and sharing it. In theory I ate exactly the same thing she did, realizing of course that bacteria can be more prevalent on one little piece than throughout the whole meal - and she got that one piece. Since then she has experimented, benadryl in hand, to see if it was an isolated event or a real allergy. Restaurant prawns (we haven't tried fresh) cause hives on her lips and inside her mouth right away, and that's just a nibble. Crab *seems* to be okay when it's fresh, but problematic when it's aged (like a day). Cracked crab seems to hold up better than uncracked, but maybe the bacteria incubates more successfully inside the shell. Could be she is just more susceptable to the bacteria than I am.

Skein

[HawgJaw]

About 5 years ago my buddies wife was cleaning crab and got one of those spines (under the flap) jammed up under her thumb nail. She had an allergic reaction and had to be taken to the hospital. She has never been able to eat crab since. I found that pulling the flap from the side instead of the end prevents from getting poked. I'm not sure if this is what you are asking about but I thought I'd mention it. I can't imagine not eating crab. HJ

[graybeard]

Thanks for the info, guys.

Is Ifish great or what? :grin:

[nivtup]

I too am tormented by AllergictoCrabitis.

I tried everything, Eat Crab, take Benedryl, stopped the hives and blotching.

Me, being a real smart fella and all, decided to take Benedryl first, then eat Crab.............. Real Bad Idea.

So, I gave on the Crab, and tried Shrimp, Bad Idea Again.

OK, How bout some Crawdads??????? Bad Idea Again....

I am not thinking trying Lobster would be a good plan either.

If it has pinchers, I stay away.

I once took the Family out Crabbing, got our limits, went home and they all started feasting, I cracked one claw, squirted some juice on my face, instant hives.

I have learned to stay way away from the stuff now.

Niv Out

[Uglygreen]

That Sucks!!! No crustacians at all? :depressed:

UG

[Dr Strangelove]

For all you guys out there who hive up immediately with any exposure, you are risking anaphalactic shock to keep trying shellfish. Don't do it.

I know the temptation; My wife loves it and gets sick everytime. The fake Krab, made from Cod(?) may be safer and should take to garlic butter and Lipitor just fine.

Stay Healthy,

Doc

[graybeard]

Do any of you know anything about getting sick from eating crab? I've heard of it happening to some people supposedly from improperly cooked crab. I've also heard some people claim that they are allergic to crab. Can anyone shine a light on this, I'm looking for more info... causes, etc...

gb

[Miss B Haven]

graybeard - My Bro-inlaw can't touch crab. He ate it for years, then all of a sussen he got an allergy. Had to go to the emerency room. He got it in something by accidedent once after - same thing.
My wife has to make him a special bowl of her Holiday Seafood Soup every year with imitation crab instead of the real thing.
Real bummer- he loves the stuff and stil lgoes crabbing with the family but can't touch it. Don't know any more of the details, but it sure does happen!
There was also a warning that during shelfish red tide danger times not to eat crab guts or butter. Guess I won't ever have to worry about that!

[Pilar]

Mel, 'Krab' is made with processed fish (Whiting, Hake), red dye and crab juice for flavoring.

Just a thought ............

[Miss B Haven]

Pilar - Are you sure about the crab juice? :whazzup: I didn't know that, but he's OK with Imitation stuff. At least we haven't had any trips to the hospital yet. I didn't think they used anything REAL for flavoring anymore! :shocked:

[O'City Fisherman]

Graybeard,
I can not eat shell fish at all. I have an alergic reaction and my throat swell up. The last time I had Alaskan crab was 17 years ago for my 16th B-Day. God is sucks.. I love to smell it but I know to keep the hands off.