Final answer:
If a patient with a shellfish allergy is exposed to iodine, they could experience anaphylactic shock, which is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention. Avoidance of allergens and carrying an epinephrine auto-injector are crucial for individuals with severe allergies to prevent severe allergic reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is allergic to shellfish, iodine could send them into anaphylactic shock, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. When someone with a shellfish allergy is exposed to iodine, their immune system may overreact because it misidentifies iodine as a harmful substance, as it does with shellfish proteins. This overreaction can cause various symptoms, which might include difficulty breathing, swelling, watery, itchy eyes, nausea, and even loss of consciousness due to the sudden drop in blood pressure.
Common causes of food allergies include shellfish, nuts, and certain proteins found in other foods. Ingesting even small amounts of these allergens can result in symptoms ranging from mild, such as hives or skin rashes, to severe, like vomiting, diarrhea, or even anaphylaxis. In the context of shellfish and iodine allergies, it is not only the consumption of shellfish that can cause a reaction but also exposure to iodine, which is sometimes used in medical imaging procedures or present in certain medications.