Egg allergy is an immune hypersensitivity to proteins contained in poultry eggs, and potentially goose, duck, or turkey eggs. Symptoms can be either slow or rapid in onset. The latter may take hours to days to appear. The former might include anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening illness which requires treatment with epinephrine. Other presentations might consist of atopic dermatitis or inflammation of the esophagus.
Eggs are one of the most common allergy-causing foods for children.
Egg allergy symptoms usually occur a few minutes to a few hours after eating eggs or foods containing eggs. Signs and symptoms range from mild to severe and can include skin rashes, hives, nasal congestion, and vomiting or other digestive problems. Rarely, egg allergy can cause anaphylaxis — a life-threatening reaction.
Symptoms of Egg Allergy
Food allergies normally have a quick beginning (from seconds to one hour). Symptoms can include: rash, hives, itching of lips, mouth, tongue, throat, eyes, skin, or other areas, swelling of tongue, lips, eyelids, or the entire face, difficulty swallowing, stuffy or runny nose, hoarse voice, wheezing, shortness of breath, diarrhea, stomach pain, lightheadedness, fainting, nausea, or vomiting. Signs of allergies differ from person to person and might differ from incident to incident. Severe threat regarding allergies may start when the respiratory tract or blood flow is affected. The former could be signaled by wheezing, a blocked airway and cyanosis, the latter from feeble pulse, pale skin, and tingling. Anaphylaxis occurs when IgE antibodies are involved, and regions of the body which aren’t in direct contact with the meals become influenced and show severe symptoms. Untreated, this may move to vasodilation, a very low blood pressure situation known as anaphylactic shock, and death (quite rare).
Young children may exhibit dermatitis/eczema on scalp, face and other areas of the human body, in older kids elbows and knees are more commonly affected. Kids with dermatitis are in higher than anticipated probability of also displaying asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Egg allergy reactions vary from person to person and usually occur soon after exposure to egg. Egg allergy symptoms can include:
- Skin inflammation or hives — the most common egg allergy reaction
- Nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing (allergic rhinitis)
- Digestive symptoms, such as cramps, nausea and vomiting
- Asthma signs and symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath
Causes of Egg Allergy
A immune system overreaction causes food allergies. For egg allergy, the immune system mistakenly identifies particular egg proteins as dangerous. If you or your child comes in contact with egg proteins, immune system cells (antibodies) comprehend them and indicate the immune system to release histamine and other substances that cause allergic symptoms and signs.
Both egg whites and egg yolks comprise proteins which could lead to allergies, but allergy to egg whites is most frequent. It is possible for breast-fed babies to get an allergic reaction to egg proteins in breast milk when the mother consumes eggs.
Prevention of Egg Allergy
Here are some things you can do to avoid an allergic reaction, and to keep it from getting worse if one does occur.
- Read food labels carefully. Some people react to foods with only trace amounts of egg.
- Be cautious when eating out. Your server or even the cook may not be completely certain about whether a food contains egg proteins.
- Wear an allergy bracelet or necklace. This can be especially important if you or your child has a severe reaction and can’t tell caregivers or others what’s going on.
- Let your child’s caregivers know about an egg allergy. Talk to your child’s babysitters, teachers, relatives or other caregivers about the egg allergy so that they don’t accidently give your child egg-containing products. Make sure they understand what to do in an emergency.
- If you’re breast-feeding, avoid eggs. If your child has an egg allergy, he or she may react to proteins passed through your milk.
