A member asked:

Why are so many people allergic to shrimp and sea food?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Michael Zacharisen answered

Specializes in Allergy and Immunology

Exposure + genetics: The real reason is not clearly known, but the human immune system frequently recognized the muscle protein in shrimp (called tropomyosin) as foreign and makes allergic antibodies to it. It is likely a combination of increased genetic risk, combined with exposure of the shrimp proteins in the GI tract interacting with the GI immune system.

Answered 1/16/2015

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