What is Egg Allergy ?

Egg allergy is one of the important food allergies in children worldwide. Egg allergy can occur as early in infancy. But most of the cases egg allergy resolved when the child grows into an adolescent.

Food allergy is immunologically mediated reaction to certain foods which occurs within minutes to hours after taking food. Even a small amount of food is sufficient to trigger allergy symptoms. In some individuals, a food allergy can cause severe allergy symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.

Hidden Sources of Egg

Though few cases it is seen the food labels as egg free are actually contain egg protein. If you are in doubt then contact the manufacturer.

Foods that may contain egg protein include:

• Baked goods
• Breaded foods
• Marshmallows
• Mayonnaise
• Frostings
• Puddings and custards
• Salad dressing
• Many pastas
• Processed meat, meatloaf and meatballs
• Foam on alcoholic, specialty coffees

Symptoms of Egg Allergy

The most common symptoms include:

• Tingling sensation or itching in and around the mouth
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, throat or other parts of the body
• Hives, itching or eczema
• Cough, wheezing or trouble breathing
•  Nasal congestion
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
• Anaphylaxis

Causes of Egg Allergy

In food allergy, our immune system recognizes food as a harmful substance and react against it leading to symptoms of food allergy.

In Egg Allergy, our immune system recognize egg as a harmful substance and react against it. After a sensitization phase, when egg is introduced for second time the body produces huge number of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to neutralize the protein (allergen) in egg. Cross linking reaction lead to degranulation of mast cell releasing large number of powerful chemical mediators including histamine and other chemicals leading to sign and symptoms of allergic inflammation.

Diagnosis of Egg Allergy

Till date there is no ideal test for egg allergy. A physician should consider the following:

• Symptoms. Tell your physician /allergist, the symptoms you are experiencing.
• Family history of allergies. Tell your physician whether other family members are suffering from any form of allergic disorders.
• A physical examination. To find out any urticarial lesion in the body and to exclude other cause of similar symptoms.
• A skin prick test. A skin prick test using food allergen can be performed. Expertise in this regard is necessary to perform skin test. A positive prick test is only indicate the people is sensitized to particular food allergen tested.
• A blood test. A blood test can be performed to measure the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE).
• Elimination diet.
• Oral food challenge.

Treatment of Egg Allergy

• Avoidance of egg and egg containing products.
• Antihistaminesin mild to moderate reaction- In mild to moderate allergic reaction these drugs reduce the sign and symptoms of allergy. However they are effective in severe allergic reaction.
• Intramuscular epinephrine/adrenaline in case of anaphylaxis- always have your adrenaline autoinjector with you.
• In most of the cases the child outgrow egg allergy.

Prevention of Egg Allergy

Avoidance of the egg is the best way to prevent food allergy.

If you have food allergy, then follow these steps:

• Know what you’re eating and drinking. Always read the food labels.
• If you have already had a severe reaction/anaphylaxis, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that lets others know that you have a food allergy.
• Have an action plan ready. Always have your epinephrine /adrenaline autoinjector with you.
• Be careful while eating at restaurants.
• Plan your meals and snacks before leaving home.

If your child has a food allergy, you must follow few steps to ensure your child is safe:

• Always notify key people about the child’s food allergy.
• Explain food allergy symptoms to persons who spend time with the child.
• Have a written action plan.
• Have your child wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace.

Food Allergy Mimickers

Common conditions that mimic food allergy include:

• Lactase deficiency / lactose intolerance
• Food poisoning
• Celiac disease. sometimes called to as a gluten allergy
• Sensitivity to food additives.eg sulfites used in dried fruit, canned goods
• Histamine toxicity from certain not refrigerated fish

Read in-depth of Egg Allergy

To read details click on Read More

Point to be remembered in managing Food Allergy

Avoidance of the offending food is the best way to prevent food allergy. One must know the causative food to which he is allergic. A person with food allergy must be cautious when eating in  restaurants and in social events.

If you have  food allergy, then follow these steps:

• Know what you’re eating and drinking. Always read the food labels while you eating something.
• If you have already had a severe reaction/anaphylaxis, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that will alert others and you have a food allergy.
• Have an action plan ready. Always have a action plan of your food allergy.
• Have an Epinephrine / Adrenaline Autoinjector with you.
• Be careful while eating at restaurants.
• Plan your meals and snacks before leaving home.

If your child has food allergy, you must follow few steps to ensure your child is safe:

• Always notify key people about the child’s food allergy. Inform your child care providers, school personnel, parents of your child’s friends and other adults who regularly interact with your child. Tell them that food allergy may be life threatening and may require urgent intervention to save life of the child.
• Explain food allergy symptoms to persons who spend time with the child.
• Have a written action plan.This plan should include the appropriate management strategies to care the child in case of food allergy and in emergency case of anaphylaxis. Give one copy of the plan to school authority.
• Have your child wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace to display that he/she has Food Allergy.

In-depth reading about of Egg Allergy

What is Egg Allergy?

Food allergy is immunologically mediated reaction to certain foods which occurs within minutes to hours after taking food. Even a small amount of food is sufficient to trigger allergy symptoms. In some individuals, a food allergy can cause severe allergy symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.

Egg allergy is one of the important food allergy in children worldwide. Egg allergy can occur as early in infancy. But most of the cases egg allergy resolved when the child grows into adolescent.

Sometimes few people develop indigestion, gaseous distention of abdomen or diarrhea after taking some food but it may not be due to food allergy but another condition called food intolerance. This reaction is not immunologically mediated and it is less severe than allergy.

Causes of Egg Allergy

In Egg Allergy, our immune system recognize egg as a harmful substance and react against it. After a sensitization phase, when egg is introduced for second time the body produces huge number of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to neutralize the protein (allergen) in egg. Cross linking reaction lead to degranulation of mast cell releasing large number of powerful chemical mediators including histamine and other chemicals leading to sign and symptoms of allergic inflammation.

Risk Factor for Egg Allergy

Few factors can increase the risk of developing egg allergy. These factors include:

• Atopic dermatitis. Children with atopic dermatitis/eczema are much more likely to develop a food allergy than are children who don’t have eczema.
• Family history of allergy. Family history of any form of allergy like food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and eczema will increase the chance of food allergy in you.
• Age. Egg allergy is most common in children. As the child grows into adulthood, the digestive system matures and allergic food reactions are less likely to occur.

Hidden sources of egg products

Though few cases it is seen the food labels as egg free are actually contain egg protein. If you are in doubt then contact the manufacturer.

Foods that may contain egg protein include:

• Baked goods
• Breaded foods
• Marshmallows
• Mayonnaise
• Frostings
• Puddings and custards
• Salad dressing
• Many pastas
• Processed meat, meatloaf and meatballs
• Foam on alcoholic, specialty coffees

Following terms indicate that the product may contain egg proteins which are used during manufacturing process.

• Albumin
• Globulin
• Lysozyme
• Lecithin
• Livetin
• Vitellin
• Words starting with “ova” or “ovo,” eg. ovalbumin or ovoglobulin etc.

Another potential source of exposure to egg protein is cross-contamination in home-prepared dishes or meals, especially when you’re eating in other people’s homes.

Symptoms of Egg Allergy

Symptoms of egg allergy can ranges from mild allergic reaction to severe allergic reaction or even life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Usually, food allergy symptoms develop within a few minutes to two hours after eating the offending food.

The most common symptoms include:

• Tingling sensation or itching in and around the mouth
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, throat or other parts of the body
• Hives, itching or eczema
• Cough, wheezing or trouble breathing
•  Nasal congestion
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

Anaphylaxis

In few individual, a egg allergy can cause anaphylaxis. Life-threatening signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Respiratory distress
• A swollen throat or the sensation of a lump in your throat
• Shock with a severe drop in blood pressure
• Rapid pulse
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency treatment. Emergency treatment with intramuscular epinephrine/adrenaline is crucial for the survival of patients. Anaphylaxis if untreated can lead to coma or even death.

Diagnosis of Egg Allergy

Till date there is no ideal test for Egg allergy. A physician should consider the following:

• Symptoms.

  Tell your physician /allergist, the symptoms you are experiencing. Inform him about the possible food items, eating of which lead to the start of your symptoms. Tell him when this symptoms start occurring, how much time the symptoms last and how you get relief.

• Family history of allergies.

  Tell your physician whether other family members are suffering from any form of allergic disorders.

• A physical examination.

  To find out any urticarial lesion in the body and to exclude other cause of similar symptoms.

• A skin prick test.

  A skin prick test using food allergen can be performed. Expertise in this regard is necessary to perform a skin test. A positive prick test only indicates sensitization. The result of the skin prick test is to be corroborated with the clinical finding of the patients.

• A blood test.

  To measure the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE).

• Elimination diet.

  This can be done by first eliminating the suspected food items for 2-4 weeks then reintroducing the food items one by one to see when the symptoms return back. However, an elimination diet cannot distinguish true food allergy from food sensitivity. Another thing one must be kept in mind that if a person is already experienced severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, one must not do an elimination diet as it may be disastrous.

• Oral food challenge.

  Here the physician will give you a small but gradually increasing amount of egg or egg containing product to see whether the symptoms are occurring or not. One must be kept in mind that if a person is already experienced severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, one must not do oral food challenge test as it can be disastrous.

Treatment of Egg Allergy

Avoidance is the best preventive measure. However, an individual may unknowingly come in contact with the food and lead to an allergic reaction.

For mild to moderate allergic reaction:  over-the-counter or prescribed antihistamines are helpful.

For severe allergic reaction: If there is severe reaction or anaphylaxis one must inject adrenaline/ epinephrine in an appropriate dosage. If someone has adrenaline autoinjector then he can use it otherwise one has to attend the nearest hospital as early as possible. One must carry his adrenaline autoinjector all the time if an allergist prescribed it.

How to Prevent Egg Allergy

Avoidance of the offending food is the best way to prevent food allergy. One must know the causative food to which he is allergic. A person with a food allergy must be cautious when eating in a restaurant and in social events.

If you have a food allergy, then follow these steps:

• Know what you’re eating and drinking. Always read the food labels.
• If you have already had a severe reaction/anaphylaxis, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that lets others know that you have a food allergy.
• Have an action plan ready. Always have your epinephrine /adrenaline autoinjector with you.
• Be careful while eating at restaurants.
• Plan your meals and snacks before leaving home.

If your child has a food allergy, you must follow few steps to ensure your child is safe:

• Always notify key people about the child’s food allergy.  Inform your child care providers, school personnel, parents of your child’s friends and other adults who regularly interact with your child. Emphasize that food allergy may be life-threatening and may require urgent intervention.
• Explain food allergy symptoms to persons who spend time with the child.
• Have a written action plan. This plan should include the appropriate management strategies to care for the child in case of food allergy. One copy of the plan must be given to school authority.
• Have your child wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Avoidance of the offending food in the utmost importance in food allergy.

• Don’t assume offending food in any form. Always check food labels while you eating outside especially in restaurants and in social events.
• If you are in doubt then don’t eat. One must keep in mind that even a very small amount of food particle can trigger symptoms of food allergy or may trigger anaphylaxis. So if you are in doubt then it is better to avoid the food.
• Involve caregivers of the child. If your child has a food allergy, then you have to inform the school staff and other care givers of the child so that they can manage the child in case of any symptoms of food allergy.
• Hand washing/ clean kitchen room.

Alternative medicine

Limited use. Research needs to be conducted. Some people, however, claim few improvements of symptoms.

Common conditions that mimic food allergy include:

• Lactase deficiency / lactose intolerance
• Food poisoning
• Celiac disease. sometimes called to as a gluten allergy
• Sensitivity to food additives.eg sulfites used in dried fruit, canned goods
• Histamine toxicity from certain not refrigerated fish

Complications of egg allergy include:

Though most of the cases egg allergy leads to a mild to moderate allergic reaction but severe allergic reaction in the form of anaphylaxis can occur requiring injection adrenaline / epinephrine.

An individual with egg allergy are at risk of developing others allergies including:

• Increase risk of allergies to other foods like  milk, soy or peanuts
• Risk of allergies to dust mites, pet dander, or grass pollen
• Increase risk of allergic skin reactions such as atopic dermatitis
• Enhanced risk of asthma. Asthma further increases the risk of severe allergic reaction to egg.

Vaccination and Egg Allergy

Many parents and family members are often asked whether vaccine can safely be given in egg allergy patients. It is true that vaccine like Yellow fever vaccine may trigger allergic reaction in patient with egg allergy but other vaccine are considered usually safe. Vaccine which has egg proteins must be given under medical supervision.

• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines

are considered generally safe for children with egg allergy, even though egg protein is present in the vaccine.

• Influenza vaccines/Flu Shots:

Influenza vaccine contain minute amount of egg protein but this vaccine is also recommended when patients indicated even in egg allergy.

• Yellow fever vaccine:

usually not given in egg allergy patients. But can be given if indicated, under medical supervision after testing for a reaction.

Food intolerance

• A food intolerance is a condition which is not allergy but it mimic the sign symptoms of allergy such as nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea.
• Depending on the type of food intolerance you have, you may be able to eat small amounts of offending foods without a reaction. By contrast, if you have a true food allergy, even a tiny amount of food may trigger an allergic reaction.
• Sometimes an individual may not be intolerant to food itself but maybe intolerance to the ingredients to prepare the food.