Egg Allergy – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Eggs rank among the top allergy triggers for children. When someone with an egg allergy consumes eggs or egg-containing foods, symptoms typically appear within minutes to hours. These reactions vary widely in severity, ranging from mild skin issues like rashes and hives to respiratory problems such as nasal congestion.
Some individuals may experience digestive symptoms including vomiting. In rare cases, egg allergies can trigger anaphylaxis, a severe reaction requiring immediate medical attention.
Egg allergies often begin in infancy. While most children eventually outgrow this allergy before reaching their teen years, some individuals will continue to have egg allergies throughout their lives.
Signs and Symptoms
Egg allergies can cause different reactions in each person. These reactions usually happen shortly after eating or being exposed to eggs. Here are common symptoms to watch for:
- Skin Problems: Hives or skin inflammation (most common reaction).
- Breathing Issues: Runny nose, sneezing, or nasal congestion.
- Stomach Troubles: Cramps, nausea, or vomiting.
- Asthma-Like Symptoms: Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing.
Even mild reactions should be discussed with your doctor. Remember that egg allergy symptoms can change each time. A mild reaction once doesn’t mean future reactions will also be mild.
Severe Allergic Response
A serious allergic reaction to eggs can lead to a life-threatening emergency called anaphylaxis. This requires immediate medical help, including an epinephrine shot and a trip to the emergency room.
Warning signs of anaphylaxis include:
- Breathing difficulties, including throat swelling or a lump in the throat
- Stomach pain and cramping
- Fast heartbeat
- Shock with a severe drop in blood pressure, causing dizziness or fainting
If your doctor believes you or your child might be at risk for severe reactions, they may prescribe an emergency epinephrine autoinjector. This easy-to-use device can save lives during an anaphylaxis episode.
When to See a Doctor
Visit a doctor if you or your child shows signs of a food allergy after eating eggs or foods with eggs. It’s helpful to seek medical care while the reaction is happening to help with diagnosis.
Emergency situations: If you notice symptoms of anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction), get emergency medical help right away. Use an autoinjector if one has been prescribed.
Prompt medical attention is important for proper treatment of egg allergies.
Causes
Food allergies happen when your body’s defense system reacts too strongly to certain foods. With egg allergies, the immune system wrongly sees egg proteins as dangerous invaders.
When someone with an egg allergy eats or touches eggs, their antibodies detect these proteins and trigger the release of chemicals like histamine. These chemicals cause allergic symptoms like rashes, swelling, or breathing problems.
While both parts of an egg can trigger allergies, the egg white contains proteins that more commonly cause reactions.
Interestingly, babies who are breastfed might have allergic reactions if their mother eats eggs, as the egg proteins can pass into breast milk.
Risk Factors
Several factors may raise your chances of having an egg allergy:
Skin Problems: Children with atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) face a much higher risk of developing egg allergies compared to children with healthy skin.
Family Connections: If your parents have allergic conditions like asthma, food allergies, hay fever, hives, or eczema, you may be more likely to develop an egg allergy yourself.
Young Age: Egg allergies appear most frequently in children. As people grow older, their digestive systems mature, which often leads to fewer allergic reactions to foods like eggs.
Many children eventually outgrow their egg allergies as their immune systems develop.
Complications
Severe allergic reactions are the main worry for people with egg allergies. These reactions may need immediate treatment with epinephrine shots and emergency medical care.
People with egg allergies often face higher risks of developing other health issues. These include:
- Food allergies to milk, soy, or peanuts
- Allergies to pets, dust mites, or pollen
- Skin problems like atopic dermatitis
- Asthma
Having asthma can make allergic reactions to eggs or other foods more dangerous. The immune system that causes egg allergies is also responsible for these other conditions.
Ways to Avoid Allergic Reactions
Many foods contain egg products, even when you might not expect them. Always check with the maker if you’re unsure. Common foods with eggs include:
- Marshmallows
- Mayonnaise
- Baked goods
- Breaded foods
- Frostings
- Processed meats
- Puddings and custards
- Salad dressings
- Many pastas
- Some alcoholic drinks
- Pretzels
When reading food labels, look for these terms that mean egg products are present:
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Albumin | Egg white protein |
| Globulin | Protein found in egg whites |
| Lecithin | Often from egg yolks |
| Lysozyme | Enzyme from eggs |
| “Ova” or “Ovo” words | Indicates egg content |
Be careful when eating at others’ homes. Even small amounts of egg from shared cooking tools can cause reactions in highly sensitive people.
To stay safe:
- Read food labels carefully: Some people react to tiny amounts of egg.
- Be careful when eating out: Servers may not know all ingredients.
- Wear medical alert jewelry: This helps if you cannot speak during a reaction.
- Tell caregivers about allergies: Make sure anyone caring for your child knows about the allergy.
- Avoid eggs while breastfeeding: If your child has an egg allergy, proteins can pass through breast milk.
Vaccines and Egg Allergy Concerns
Some vaccines are made using eggs and may cause problems for people with egg allergies.
The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) is usually safe for people with egg allergies, despite being made with eggs.
Flu vaccines sometimes contain small amounts of egg proteins. Most people with egg allergies can still get these vaccines safely.
Adults over 18 can get an egg-free flu vaccine. Talk with your doctor before getting vaccinated if you’ve had egg reactions before.
The yellow fever vaccine may cause allergic reactions in people with egg allergies. This vaccine is given to travelers visiting countries with yellow fever risk. People with egg allergies should discuss options with their doctor.
Most other vaccines are safe for people with egg allergies. However, it’s always best to check with your doctor first.
They might want to test you to make sure a vaccine won’t cause a reaction.
