Abdominal pain and diarrhoea after eating seafood: allergy or something else?

Several possibilities to consider

• Allergic reaction: often comes with itchy skin, raised patches (hives) or discomfort around the mouth, and symptoms appear quickly
• Food that is not fresh: may come with obvious vomiting, and several people may become ill at the same time
• Tolerance problems: discomfort caused by eating too much at once or too much oily food
• Other digestive problems: for example, worsening of an existing bowel condition

Clues for telling them apart

It helps to record what was eaten, when, and the order in which symptoms appeared: allergy often appears within a short time and involves the skin or the airways; if several people who ate the same meal have symptoms, pay more attention to the ingredients and how the food was handled. A single experience is rarely enough to draw a firm conclusion.

Principles of management

If symptoms are mild, stop eating, drink enough fluids and keep watching. If there is difficulty breathing, a tight throat, hives all over the body, repeated vomiting, marked dizziness or a clear change in alertness, call 120 (the emergency number in China) right away. If symptoms keep coming back or do not ease, see a doctor as soon as possible so they can decide whether tests are needed.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Please follow your doctor's instructions.