The short explanation
Please call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department now. Sudden swelling of the lips and eyes with a tight throat after eating a food such as prawns can be a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. It can affect breathing and blood pressure and can get worse quickly, so it needs emergency treatment, not waiting to see if it settles. If someone nearby has an adrenaline auto-injector prescribed for allergies, it should be used as instructed while waiting for help. Sit upright if breathing is hard, or lie down with legs raised if you feel faint. Do not drive yourself. Once treated, you should be watched in hospital for some hours because symptoms can return.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Shellfish such as prawns, crab and lobster are a common cause of serious food allergy in adults, even in people who have eaten them before.
- After the emergency, an allergy specialist can confirm the trigger, explain what to avoid, and decide whether you should carry emergency medicine.
- Telling friends, family and colleagues about the allergy and checking ingredients when eating out can help prevent future reactions.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot assess how severe your reaction is. You need to be examined and treated in person immediately.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Was this anaphylaxis?
- Should I carry an adrenaline auto-injector?
- Which foods should I avoid now?
- Should I see an allergy specialist for testing?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department now if you have swelling with throat tightness, trouble breathing, wheezing, dizziness or fainting.
Get help the same day
- Even if the swelling settles on its own, get checked by a doctor the same day, because reactions can return.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine appointment with an allergy specialist after recovery to plan avoidance and emergency steps.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Skin conditions MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Steroids NHS
- Hydrocortisone NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
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No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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