Egg allergy

Diagnosis involves the steps your healthcare professional takes to see if egg allergy caused your or your child's symptoms. To diagnose egg allergy, your healthcare professional uses various methods. The healthcare professional also checks to see if another health condition could be causing symptoms. Often, what seems to be egg allergy is instead caused by the gut having trouble digesting a certain food or ingredient. This is called food intolerance. It tends to be less serious than food allergy, and it doesn't involve the immune system.

Your healthcare professional asks about your or your child's health history. Then the healthcare professional does a physical exam. You or your child also may need one or more of the following tests:

• Skin prick test. In this test, the skin is pricked and exposed to small amounts of the proteins found in eggs. If you or your child has egg allergy, a raised bump called a hive may form on the pricked area. Allergy specialists tend to be best at giving allergy skin tests and reviewing the results.
• Blood test. A blood test can measure the immune system's response to eggs. It checks the amount of certain antibodies in the bloodstream that may be clues to an allergic reaction.
• Food challenge. This test involves a healthcare professional giving you or your child a small amount of egg to see if it causes a reaction. If nothing happens, more egg is given while the healthcare professional watches for symptoms of a food allergy. Because this test can cause a severe reaction, an allergy specialist should give it.
• Food tracking or removing certain foods from the diet. Your or your child's healthcare professional may have you keep a detailed diary of foods eaten. You also may be asked to stop eating eggs or other foods one at a time to see whether symptoms get better. This is called an elimination diet.

Egg allergy treatment may include medicines to ease mild symptoms or treat severe reactions. The only way to prevent egg allergy symptoms is to not eat eggs or egg products. But some people with egg allergies can tolerate foods that have well-cooked eggs in them, such as baked goods.

Medicines to ease symptoms

Medicines such as antihistamines may ease symptoms of a mild egg allergy. You can take these medicines after being exposed to eggs. They don't help prevent anaphylaxis caused by eggs. They also don't treat a serious reaction.

Emergency epinephrine shots

You may need to carry an emergency epinephrine injector at all times. Anaphylaxis needs treatment with an epinephrine shot and a trip to the emergency room. Healthcare professionals in the emergency room watch you for a time to be sure symptoms don't come back.

Learn how to use the autoinjector. If your child has an autoinjector, make sure caregivers have access to it and know how to use it. If your child is old enough, make sure your child understands how to use it. Replace the autoinjector before its expiration date.

Most children outgrow egg allergy over time. Ask your child's healthcare team how often your child should be tested to see if eggs still cause symptoms. It may not be safe for you to test your child's reaction to eggs at home. Testing is especially risky if your child has had a serious reaction to eggs in the past.

You'll likely start by seeing your family healthcare professional or pediatrician. You may be referred to a doctor called an allergist or immunologist who finds and treats allergic conditions. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

• Be aware of any restrictions before the appointment. When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance. For example, if you need allergy testing, don't take antihistamines before the test. Ask your healthcare professional when you should stop taking them.
• Write down symptoms, including those that may not seem related to the reason for which you made the appointment.
• Make a list of medicines, vitamins and supplements that you or your child takes. Include the doses.
• Write down questions to ask the healthcare professional.

For egg allergy, some basic questions to ask the healthcare professional include:

• What tests are needed? Do I need to do anything to prepare for them?
• Is this reaction most likely caused by egg allergy?
• What other conditions may be causing these symptoms?
• Will my child or I need to stop eating eggs, or are certain egg products OK?
• Where can I find information on foods most likely to contain eggs?
• What should I tell my child's school about my child's allergy?
• My child or I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
• Do I — or does my child — need to carry an autoinjector?
• Are there brochures or other printed material I can take? What websites do you recommend?

Feel free to ask other questions.

What to expect from the doctor

The healthcare professional likely will ask you questions including:

• When was the first reaction to eating eggs?
• Can you describe the reaction?
• Does this happen every time you or your child eats eggs or something made with eggs?
• How soon do symptoms start after eating eggs or products made with eggs?
• How serious are the symptoms?
• Does anything seem to make the symptoms better, such as taking allergy medicine or not eating certain foods?
• What, if anything, appears to make the symptoms worse?
• Is anyone in the family allergic to eggs or other foods?
• Do you or does your child have other allergic conditions, such as eczema, hay fever or asthma?

What you can do in the meantime

If you or your child has mild allergy symptoms after eating something with egg in it, an antihistamine may help. But be on the lookout for symptoms that become worse and might need treatment from a healthcare professional. If you or your child has a severe reaction, get medical care right away. Call 911 or your local emergency number.