Reading Journal 1

Student: Ghassan Mousa Adam Eissa

Teacher: Monika Szelag

IFP ES Group 1

Source:

Pascual, C., Belver M. T., Valls, A. & Martin-Esteban, M. (2007) “Seafood allergy and
allergens” in Emerton, V. (Ed.) Food allergy and intolerance: current issues and
concerns [e-book] Available at: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/eBook/978-0-85404-
881-6#!divbookcontent (Accessed on 03/03/2014)
Task 1: Summary
This article investigates allergic reactions to seafood. Seafood is a necessary in the staple
diet in the northern countries, Spanish and Portuguese fish intake is similar to Sweden’s and
Norway’s. The reason fish allergy has been accredited is due to the fact that De Besche
released a paper stating the fact that fish is an inhalant allergen, a contact allergen and as
well an alimentary allergen. In the late 60s, Aas (4) advertised an inquiry about cod allergen,
previously called M Allergen. It was a pattern of how food allergen is supposed to be
considered. In the year 1975, Elsayed progressed the allergen and it was detected that
parvalbumin was the major allergen of fish. Fish allergy has several syndromes, such as
urticarial, angioedema, oral allergy syndrome (OAS), worsening of atopic dermatitis,
vomiting, and diarrhoea. In Europe, Systemic anaphylaxis concerns the patient suffering
from trauma, whilst in the USA it is illustrated as a reaction implicating 2 or more organs. To
analyse fish allergy in this study, a cutaneous prick test was exploited. In the case of which
patients are under the age of 2, an open challenge is inclined. However, if the patient is over
2, a single-blind-placebo controlled challenge is executed. Years later, a Japanese group
detected that the parvalbumin protein was not the most allergenic, there was another protein
that was pledged for sensitisation to fish. It was revealed that inhalation of steam from
cooked fish may cause urticarial and angioedema. Some children has undergone allergic
symptoms after visiting a fish market; air specimen were collected from the fish market and it
was shown that small amounts of fish allergen were present in the air. Analysis was also
regulated on the allerginicity of salmon. Salmon is introduced from Norway to Spain and is
comparatively low-priced, consequently becoming more popular. It was boiled and related
with other allergenic fish. It was unveiled that when boiled, it gives out vapour that contains
allergens. It is necessary to be attentive of this if a member of the household is allergic to
fish, as repeated exhibition to fumes from cooking fish can build up sensitivity.

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Task 2: Authors’ stance
It is difficult to identify the Author’s stance as the whole text was about statistics and facts,
no personal opinions were mentioned at all.

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Task 3: Reasons for choosing this article

I Chose to read this article because I am willing to study pharmacy in the future, so knowing
symptoms of allergens would be very useful information to me which I will benefit from in the
future, not only so, but also fish is one of my favourite foods and I would like to read about it
and gain some knowledge.

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Task 4: Questions and Answers
Questions:

1. What does this paper cover?

2. What did De Besche publish and when?
3. Mention an area in which fish allergy is rare and another in which it is common.
4. Mention 6 types of fish species’ used in examining children
5. Mention 6 symptoms of Fish Allergy.

Answers:

1. Allergic reactions to seafood

2. In 1937 De Besche published a paper explaining that fish was an inhalant allergen, a
contact allergen, and an alimentary allergen
3. Rare in the United States, Common in Spain
4. Megarin, Sole, Whitch flounder, Cod, Albacore, and Hake.
5. Urticaria, Angioedema, Oral allergy syndrome (OAS), Worsening of atopic dermatitis,
Vomiting, and Diarrhoea.

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Task 5: Vocabulary List
Prevalence: prev-e-l-e-ns. The fact or condition of being common. Popularity

Staple: Stey-puhl. A basic or principal item. Fundamental

Significant: Sig-nif-i-kuh-nt. Important; of consequence. Momentous

Paradigm: par-uh-dim. A display in fixed arrangement of such a set. Prototype

Cite: sahyt-d. To mention in support. Quoted

Preventive: pri-ven-tiv. Serving to hinder. Precautionary

Elicit: ih-lis-it. To draw or bring out. Evoke

Sensitize: sen-si-taiz. To make or become sensitive. Sharpen

Syndrome: sin-drohm. A group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific

disorder, disease, or the like. Disorder

Allergen: al-er-juhn. Any substance that includes an allergy. Antigen

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