IgE antibodies to salmon

IgE antibodies to salmon too high

A value above the cut-off means that you have IgE antibodies against salmon: sensitization. That is not the same as an allergy. Symptoms that fit an allergy are itching in the mouth and throat, hives, swelling of the lips, vomiting or shortness of breath, shortly after eating. According to Stichting Voedselallergie, different kinds of fish can contain different allergens; still, many people with a fish allergy react to more than one kind of fish. Crustaceans and shellfish contain other allergens; a result for salmon says nothing about them. The level of the value says little about how severe a reaction would be.

IgE antibodies to salmon too low

A value below the cut-off means that no IgE antibodies against salmon were found. An IgE-mediated allergy to salmon is then much less likely. In two studies in the Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS), the IgE test for fish found 67 to 94 out of 100 people with a confirmed fish allergy, so occasionally a true allergy is missed. Other kinds of fish are not tested with this test. Symptoms after eating can also have another cause, for example an intolerance or a bowel condition.

Useful for

Useful with a clear reaction shortly after eating salmon, such as itching or swelling in the mouth and throat, hives, vomiting or shortness of breath. According to Stichting Voedselallergie, breathing in fumes while fish is being fried can also cause airway symptoms in sensitive people. In people who eat salmon normally without symptoms, the test adds nothing, and with vague symptoms without a clear link to a meal, it adds little.

How common is it?

Fish allergy is fairly rare: in Europe, an estimated 0.1 to 0.2 in 100 people have a fish allergy. According to Stichting Voedselallergie, fish allergy is more common in adults than in children and usually does not go away, unlike allergy to milk or egg.

Stichting Voedselallergie (Dutch food allergy foundation)