There's currently no cure for a shellfish allergy. The best treatment is to avoid foods such as shrimp, lobster, crab, and other crustaceans. Finned fish are not related to shellfish, but cross-contamination is common.

Can you outgrow a shellfish allergy?

Shellfish allergy can develop at any age. Even people who have eaten shellfish in the past can develop an allergy. Some people outgrow certain food allergies over time, but those with shellfish allergies usually have the allergy for the rest of their lives.

Are shellfish allergies lifelong?

Shellfish allergies are usually lifelong. When a person with an allergy to a particular shellfish is exposed to that shellfish, proteins in the shellfish bind to specific IgE antibodies made by the person's immune system.