Egg allergy

Eggs are one of the most common foods that cause an allergy in children.

Egg allergy symptoms usually start a few minutes to a few hours after eating eggs or foods that have egg in them. Symptoms range from mild to serious. They can include skin rashes, hives, a stuffy nose, upset stomach and vomiting. Rarely, egg allergy can cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.

Egg allergy can happen as early as infancy. Most children outgrow their egg allergies by age 16.

Egg allergy symptoms vary from person to person. They usually happen soon after eating an egg or a food made with egg. Egg allergy symptoms can include:

• Skin swelling or itchy bumps called hives — the most common egg allergy reaction.
• Stuffy or runny nose and sneezing, also known as allergic rhinitis.
• Digestive symptoms such as cramps, upset stomach and vomiting.
• Asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath.

Anaphylaxis

A severe allergic reaction can lead to a life-threatening emergency called anaphylaxis. Treatment of anaphylaxis involves taking a shot of medicine called epinephrine right away and then going to the emergency room. Anaphylaxis symptoms include:

• Tightening of airways, including a swollen throat or a lump in the throat that makes it hard to breathe.
• Pain and cramping in the stomach area, also called the abdomen.
• Fast heart rate.
• Shock, with a large drop in blood pressure. This can cause dizziness or fainting.

Tell your healthcare professional about any reaction that you or your child has to eggs. Do so even if the reaction seems mild. An egg allergy reaction can vary each time it happens. So even if a past reaction was mild, the next one could be more serious.

Your healthcare professional may prescribe epinephrine if you or your child may be at risk of a serious reaction. An epinephrine shot can be lifesaving if anaphylaxis happens. The medicine comes in a device called an autoinjector (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, others). The autoinjector makes it simple to give yourself or someone else the medicine.

See a healthcare professional if you or your child has symptoms soon after eating eggs or food made with eggs. If possible, see the healthcare professional when the allergic reaction happens. This may help your healthcare team confirm whether eggs caused the reaction.

If you or your child has symptoms of anaphylaxis, get emergency care right away. Use the autoinjector if your healthcare professional prescribed epinephrine.

An immune system reaction causes food allergies. For egg allergy, the immune system mistakenly targets certain egg proteins as harmful. When you or your child comes in contact with egg proteins, immune system cells called antibodies recognize them. The antibodies signal the immune system to release chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.

Both egg yolks and egg whites have proteins that can cause allergies, but allergy to egg whites is most common. It's possible for breastfed infants to have an allergic reaction to egg proteins in breast milk if the parent who breastfeeds the child eats eggs.

Certain factors can raise the risk of egg allergy:

• Atopic dermatitis, also called eczema. Children with this type of skin condition are much more likely to get a food allergy than are children who don't have skin conditions.
• Family history. You have a higher risk of a food allergy if one or both of your parents have certain health conditions. These conditions include asthma, food allergy or another type of allergy — such as hay fever, hives or eczema.
• Age. Egg allergy is most common in children. With age, the digestive system matures and allergic food reactions are less likely to happen.

The most dangerous complication of egg allergy is a severe allergic reaction that needs treatment with an epinephrine shot and emergency care.

The same immune system reaction that causes egg allergy also can cause other health conditions. If you or your child has egg allergy, you or your child may be at higher risk of:

• Allergies to other foods such as milk, soy or peanuts.
• Allergies to pet dander, dust mites or grass pollen.
• Allergic skin reactions such as atopic dermatitis.
• Asthma, which in turn raises the risk of having a severe allergic reaction to eggs or other foods.

Here are some things you can do to help prevent an allergic reaction. These steps also can help keep a reaction from getting worse if one happens.

• 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 has egg proteins.
• Wear an allergy bracelet or necklace. This can be crucial if you or your child has a serious reaction. The reaction may keep you or your child from being able to tell caregivers or others what's going on.
• Let your child's caregivers know about your child's egg allergy. Talk to your child's babysitters, teachers, relatives and other caregivers about the egg allergy. They'll be less likely to give your child products with egg by mistake. Make sure they understand what to do in an emergency.
• If you're breastfeeding, don't eat eggs. If your baby has egg allergy, your baby may react to proteins passed through your milk.

Hidden sources of egg products

Even if a food is labeled egg-free, it may still have some egg proteins in it. When in doubt, contact the food maker.

Foods that have eggs in them can include:

• Baked goods.
• Breaded foods.
• Foam on alcoholic specialty coffees.
• Frostings.
• Marshmallows.
• Mayonnaise.
• Meringue.
• Marzipan.
• Pastas.
• Pretzels.
• Processed meat, meatloaf and meatballs.
• Puddings and custards.
• Salad dressing.

Certain terms on an ingredient label can indicate that egg products have been used to make processed foods, including:

• Albumin.
• Globulin.
• Lecithin.
• Livetin.
• Lysozyme.
• Vitellin.
• Words starting with ova or ovo, such as ovalbumin or ovoglobulin.

Also, don't let your food touch egg in other foods or egg that's on cutting boards or utensils. This helps keep you from being exposed to egg while making dishes or meals at home. This safety measure also helps when you eat in the homes of people who may not be aware of the risk.

Vaccinations and egg allergy

Some shots to prevent illness called vaccines have egg proteins in them. In some people, these vaccines pose a risk of triggering an allergic reaction.

• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines tend to be safe for children with egg allergy, even though eggs are used to make them.
• Flu, also called influenza, vaccines sometimes have small amounts of egg proteins. But two flu vaccines that don't have these proteins are approved for use in adults age 18 and older. And even vaccines that do have egg proteins can safely be given to most people with egg allergy. If you or your child has had a reaction to eggs, tell your healthcare professional before getting a flu vaccine.
• Yellow fever vaccine can lead to an allergic reaction in some people who have egg allergy. The vaccine is given to travelers who enter countries where there's a risk of yellow fever. It's not usually recommended for people with egg allergy. But sometimes the vaccine is given under a healthcare professional's watch after testing for a reaction.
• Other vaccines tend to not be risky for people who have egg allergy. But ask your healthcare professional just to be safe. There's a chance your healthcare professional may be concerned about a certain vaccine. If so, you or your child may need a test to see if the vaccine is likely to cause a reaction.