CAUTION! Bloodworms - My Story

[Melody]

CAUTION! Bloodworms - My Story

One of the first foods hobbyists hear recommended is Bloodworms. Reasonably nutritious and packed with protein, they're popular in both freeze-dried and frozen forms.

I checked them out, they sounded great. I used them most in my fry food mixes, pounding them into a powder along with other mixed commercial foods. I also fed frozen Bloodworms to my larger fish, rinsed and drained.

I noticed the itchy, watery eyes first. I didn't make the connection right away but it wasn't long. Not a prob - I began washing my hands after feeding them and keeping the can away from my face. When it happened anyway, I popped an antihistamine and that took care of it.

I'll spare you the details of the progression. Suffice it to say the symptoms worsened over time (which I later found out is typical). I continued washing and the antihistamines and it was a pain, but my fishies matter and I continued to use the Bloodworms, if somewhat less.

One night I fed the fish the Bloodworms and the eyes started. I popped a pill. My eyes swelled, one almost shut, I popped another pill. That's when I felt my throat swelling.

I researched and found out that I was lucky - the antihistamines kept the throat swelling from becoming life-threatening, but I couldn't swallow easily so I know it was close. I am one to ignore symptoms, but I was so concerned that I alerted my Son as to what to do if I passed out.

I am not particularly prone to allergies - I get hayfever occasionally in the Spring and that's about it. This can happen to anyone. The allergy to Bloodworms is technically a Chironomid allergy, normally rare, but seen amongst fish-keepers and ID'ed as such by scientists.

PLEASE be careful with Bloodworms. When you feed them for the first time, make sure someone is around to help you if you show signs of a serious reaction. This is especially crucial if you already suffer from breathing/lung conditions or are prone to allergies, or anyone in your home is at risk. Don't ignore the symtoms. Even if they're mild, stop feeding the product. This applies to both freeze-dried and frozen.

Symptoms include:

Itchy, watery eyes
Difficulty breathing
Rash
Difficulty swallowing
Rhinoconjunctivitis
Runny nose/sneezing
Fever
Hives

Basically any typical allergy symptom.

Google it and you'll find detailed information if you'd like to know more.

:) Take care.

[unclerick666]

NO ONLY ARE HUMANS ALLERGIC TO BLOOD WORMS,
THEY CAN KILL SOME FISH !
PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE ARE S.A 'S
SUCH AS SOME APESTO'S AND RAMS!

CAUTION SHOULD BE USED WHEN FEEDIND THEESE WORMS TO SOUTH ANERICAN CICHLIDS AS WELL, BUT, BLACKWORMS SEEM TO BE OK IN MODERATION........UNCLE

[Melody]

I didn't know that - thanks for the heads-up.:biggrin:

Could you pick another font for me please? 'Impact' only types in cap's and my eyes are old...lol. Thanks!

[hp10BII]

Scroll about halfway down the page and it provides some good pointers about bloodworms and allergies:

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=57232

[jordonsmum]

What you've just described is a severe allergic reaction called anaphalaxis. If you're throat becomes itchy and feels like it's swelling, swallow a dose of Benedryl and call 911 as you only have a few moments before your airway is closed. Epinepherine is the only medication that can help (also called eppi pen or auto injector). This dose of medication however only lasts up to 15 mins and you STILL need to call 911. Don't attempt to drive yourself to the hospital. If an ambulance is on it's way, pack your throat with ice or something cold wrapped in a tea towel but cover up the rest of your body and keep it warm. Maintaining body temp is a must!!!!! Hope it doesn't happen to anyone else, but if it does.. please remember these steps!!

[vtec_chump]

Wow, I thought I was the only one with this condition. I bought a bag from someone online which came in a normal ziplock bag. I opened it and instantly started sneezing. I realised that the dust/powder from the crushed worms were causing this. I bought a can from the lfs and opened it without having any reaction, when i looked in there, all the freeze dried worms were in tact and there was little to no dust.

I cant help it though, my fish loved them and I couldnt stop feeding it to them.

My usual symptom would be watery and itchy eyes. This cues the reactine medication and lots of water.
This is the scary part......if i have no reactine in sight (happened twice already) my sinuses get super sensitive and i feel like someone is shoving an icepick up my nose. then my windpipe gets inflamed and really itchy causing it very hard to breath.

My solution......pop two reactine/benadryl tabs, water and for me I use BUCKLEYS for my trachea to help sooth it so I can actually breath. I lay down in bed with about 4 pillows under my head to keep air flow and just concentrate on breathing. After about an hour, it will be better and sometimes i just fall asleep for an hour and then i'm better.

Hope this helps someone someday. Good luck everybody.

[Melody]

That worked for me at first, but then it got progressively worse even with medication, so do be careful.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure the dust would make it worse.

[jordonsmum]

It's funny that I should see this post updated again. I wasn't allergic to them whats so ever when I started using them. Over the past few months, if I'm not careful and I come into conact, my face and eyes swell really bad and benedryl etc.. doesn't help. I've resorted to vinyl gloves when feeding. If I'm careful not to contact them, I'm ok.

[CACAdmin]

FYI: from what I understand about allergic reactions is that your body responds more quickly and intensely each time (learned behavior???). This is extremely serious as what you are seeing as a reaction is only the external one. If your eyes, face (or other external parts of your body) swell, be aware that is exactly what is happening to your internal organs. This can be life-threatening! If you have this type of response, do not continue to use bloodworms thinking that some Benadyl (or something of the sort) will deal with it. It may today, but eventually it will not. You could find yourself on death's doorstep. Don't take any chances. If you think you are allergic, do not use bloodworms. Your fish can benefit from other treats which do not put your life in jeopardy.:wideeyed:

[jordonsmum]

What can we use that is as nutritous for the fish????

[Melody]

Bloodworms are recommended for their protein and because fish like them. Otherwise, they're not the greatest for the digestive system anyway. At best, they should only be fed as a treat or when conditioning, in my opinion.

Any live/frozen food will give you lots of protein, which is all Bloodworms have to offer on their own, for the most part. The frozen stuff is gutloaded, as is most frozen stuff, which makes it more nutritious.

[WaterPond]

Wow, Well, today i was feeding bloodworm to all my fish, and this is actually the first time i have ever really handled the stuff. Usually i use tweezers to feed it to my fish, but i couldent find them so i just used my fingers. Now i am covered in hives, am really itchy, and my throught feels funny :confused:

Glad i saw this article a while back so i knew what it was that did it to me. So wierd.

Benedryl got rid of it though

[Melody]

I'd stay away from them if I were you then. Glad you're ok!

[GaryofMontreal]

Quite the thread. I too am allergic to them, now to the point where, believe it or not, I can't put my hands in water if someone uses the food. I used it for years with the odd itch, and then I almost lost my airway.
I had a similar reaction to freeze dried copepods as well, as a warning to others who share this sensitivity.

[CACAdmin]

Thanks for the heads-up about the freeze-dried copepods.

[tigerbarb420]

Wow. This really shocks me. I have always used Frozen Blood Worms as long as I have been keeping and I never noticed any kind of reaction. However I am grossed out by touching that stuff with my hands so I always avoid it. You guys definitely got me scared. I have pretty bad athsma and I am very sensitive to smoke, dust and cat/dog dander. My respiratory system is really weak and I would rather not risk it. I think I will throw my frozen blood worms out and go buy some frozen baby brine shrimp. Thanks a million. This thread very well could be saving lives!!!

You would think with allergy to this being soo common that it would have a caution on it. This sounds like it could potentially be as dangerous as being allergic to nuts and you don't even have to ingest it.

[Gobies et al]

Quite the thread. I too am allergic to them, now to the point where, believe it or not, I can't put my hands in water if someone uses the food. I used it for years with the odd itch, and then I almost lost my airway.
I had a similar reaction to freeze dried copepods as well, as a warning to others who share this sensitivity.

Gary.... Do you have an allergy to mosquitoes also? Just asking because bloodworms are mosquito larvae.

Wow. This really shocks me. I have always used Frozen Blood Worms as long as I have been keeping and I never noticed any kind of reaction. However I am grossed out by touching that stuff with my hands so I always avoid it. You guys definitely got me scared. I have pretty bad athsma and I am very sensitive to smoke, dust and cat/dog dander. My respiratory system is really weak and I would rather not risk it. I think I will throw my frozen blood worms out and go buy some frozen baby brine shrimp. Thanks a million. This thread very well could be saving lives!!!

You would think with allergy to this being soo common that it would have a caution on it. This sounds like it could potentially be as dangerous as being allergic to nuts and you don't even have to ingest it.

Tigerbarb... It sounds to me like you are overreacting! If you have always used Frozen Bloodworms without a reaction, you probably won't develop a problem. Continue to handle it as you have been. Your fish will love you for it. You can't avoid everything in fear of a reaction. Before you blast me with you don't know what it's like etc., I also have anaphylactic allergies, but you can't live avoiding things 'just in case'.

[hp10BII]

My understanding is that bloodworms are larva from non-biting midge flies, the Chironomidae family. I used to fish for trout, and have fly/nymph patterns for Chironomidae and mosquitos.

[Gobies et al]

Thank you hp10BII, I stand corrected. :notworthy: The labeling on Sally's Bloodworms says they are mosquito larvae, I made the assumption all were.

Checking further, I came across this site that also refers to the allergies encountered.

http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Bloodworm.htm

[Melody]

I don't think that's an overreaction at all - anyone who hasn't been able to breathe even for a few moments would agree that it isn't worth the risk of going through it again. The allergy can be developed later so I advise anyone who has concerns with asthma, BPD, etc., to excercise extreme caution. I used them for a long time with no reaction.

[tigerbarb420]

The allergy can be developed later so I advise anyone who has concerns with asthma, BPD, etc., to excercise extreme caution. I used them for a long time with no reaction.

That is exactly my concern. I fear developing an allergy to the stuff, so why not keep it on the safe side. Nothing scarier then not being able to breathe. Even though it is worst case scenario, I still despise the minor allergic reactions of itchy eyes, stuffy or watery nose and hives. I have had cats my whole life even though I have allergies and I just can't stand the reactions. If I don't wash my hands immediately after petting I start to experience symptoms even if I don't touch myself.

[Laura]

I've read about a connection between dust mite allergies and rx to bloodworms. I'm fine with them, but it's posts like this that alert people if they encounter a problem!

[Melody]

That's interesting, I haven't heard that part. There's a heads up for those with dustmite allergies, thanks Laura :Smile: .

[firestorm]

A very interesting topic, thank you Melody for starting it. I have never had a reaction to any foods I have fed my fish, I will most likely continue to use bloodworms for my fish. But I NEVER buy freeze dried, only frozen which is probably a little less likely to cause an allergic reaction except through skin irritations. I don't know what I would do if I formed and allergy to it. Although I have been lucky and only have allergies to some soaps and chlorine, oh and penicilin. I have never had an allergic reaction to mosquito bites, but I might have to watch out with my daughter because she swells badly with mosquito bites, so I will ensure I keep this kind of stuff away from her. Or if people are concerned but don't have allergies (yet), use some rubber gloves to handle the food. And don't buy freeze dried.

[Melody]

I react to both freeze-dried and frozen, but I don't know if everyone does. I have no other defined alergies, just some Hayfever sometimes. :Dunno:

[sass]

Very interesting read.
I've got asthma, so far it doesn't need treatment of any kind, but the other day I had a bout of wheezing and shrugged it off to getting mixed up with some moldy hay. I did also do some feeding with frozen bloodworms around the same time.
I'll have to try the bloodworms again and see if I get a reaction.
Thanks for the headsup.

[tigerbarb420]

I am allergic to dust mites but I have never had bad reactions to mosquito bites. I haven't rid of my blood worms yet but I definitely will now. I would really hate to develop an allergy to these and mozzies. I just really want my fish to have a good varied diet. What are some other options?