Egg Allergy

What is an Egg Allergy?

An egg allergy is an allergic reaction to the protein inside of eggs. A person can be allergic to egg white protein such as ovalbumin, ovomucoid, conalbumin, and lysozyme or to the yolk, which contains livetin, apovitillin, and vosvetin as possible triggers.

Symptoms of an Egg Allergy

An Egg allergy has similar symptoms to other food allergies. They include:

Tingling or itching in the mouth

Hives, itching, or eczema

Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other parts of the body

Wheezing, nasal congestion, or trouble breathing

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

Diagnosis of an Egg Allergy

It is possible to see whether you are allergic to eggs by looking at the symptoms right after consuming an egg. A doctor can also do a skin or blood test to determine whether you have an egg allergy.

Treatment of an Egg allergy

As with other allergies, the best treatment is to avoid the trigger, which in this case are eggs. If you have identified the particular part of the egg which you are allergic to, it is possible to avoid it while still eating eggs. For instance, people who are allergic to egg whites may tolerate the yolks and vice versa. Keep in mind, however, that complete separation of the egg white and yolk may not always be possible.

Some people that are allergic to eggs may be able to consume them if they are completely cooked. Cooking the egg completely at a high temperature may alter the protein to the point where it no longer triggers a reaction.

Outgrowing an Egg Allergy

Many children who suffer from an egg allergy outgrow it by age ten and can henceforth consume eggs without a problem.

Preventing an Egg Allergy

Egg allergies may be prevented by introducing eggs into a baby’s diet starting at nine months. Give the baby a quarter of an egg yolk and observe for any adverse effects. If no adverse reaction is present, repeat in fifteen days with half an egg yolk. If no adverse symptoms are observed, continue after another fifteen days with a whole egg.

Egg Allergy and Vaccines

If you have an egg allergy you should take caution when receiving certain vaccines as some of them are made using a bird embryo and could trigger your allergies. Your doctor should be able to tell you whether a particular vaccine is safe for you or not.