Allergy to iodine is rare and often confused with allergies to other substances. The most serious reaction is anaphylactic shock, but less severe symptoms can also occur. Testing for iodine allergy is necessary before administering contrast dye. Allergy to shellfish is not necessarily an allergy to iodine. People with an iodine allergy are almost never allergic to iodide.
An allergy to iodine is an allergy to foods or other substances that contain the element iodine. Allergic reactions to iodine can vary for those affected by this allergy, but the most serious reaction is anaphylactic shock, which is fatal if not treated quickly. Less severe allergy symptoms such as asthma, dizziness, and fever can also occur due to an allergy to iodine. Most doctors think iodine allergy is extremely rare and is often confused with allergies to other substances.
Doctors should first test for an allergy to iodine before administering the contrast agent to a patient, due to the possible serious reaction the dye could cause. Aside from the allergy itself, some people are unable to effectively remove iodine from their bodies. In these cases, the kidneys, which normally clean waste and excess fluids from the body, fail to remove the iodine, resulting in increased levels throughout the body. Testing is necessary, because a known allergy to something like shellfish is not reason enough to give up using the iodinated contrast dye.
Not all people who have an allergy to some things that contain iodine will be allergic to all things that do. Those allergic to shellfish, which contain iodine, may not be allergic to a topical antiseptic that contains iodine, for example. This seems counterintuitive, but only because an allergy to iodine itself is so rare that it’s not common to test for it. Iodine is an essential nutrient, needed in small amounts for proper thyroid function. What is often thought of as an iodine allergy is actually something very different.
When someone has an allergic reaction to shellfish, it’s rarely because of the iodine itself, but because of a muscle protein found in these types of marine animals. The presence of iodine in crustaceans is almost entirely incidental to the actual allergen. Similarly, when an allergic reaction to the contrast dye occurs, it is due to other components of the dye rather than the iodine. Finally, the iodine solution used as an antiseptic contains more than just iodine, and it is the presence of these other ingredients that causes the reaction.
It’s also worth noting that people with a so-called iodine allergy are almost never allergic to iodide, a slightly different substance made naturally by the body. Iodide is an ion made up of an iodine atom with a single negative charge, indicating an extra electron. This ion forms parts of many compounds, some of which are added in small amounts to table salt to prevent iodine deficiency.
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