How to Identify Egg Allergies and Treat the Symptoms

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By blusher
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Identify Egg Allergies and Treat the Symptoms

Egg allergies are rare food allergies most often found in children and infants. Children who are allergic to eggs usually outgrow the allergy by age 5 or 6.

After consuming the egg, an allergic reaction occurs which involves immunoglobulin (IgE) antibodies. The body’s immune system mistakes the egg as foreign and attacks it.

People with egg allergies are usually allergic to all eggs including chicken eggs, duck eggs, quail eggs, etc. There are however, people who are only allergic to chicken eggs. Some people who have complications with eggs do not have allergic reactions to them. A reaction to this experience is more for food intolerance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Know the symptoms of egg allergies. Here are some of the more common ones:

- Skin rash
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
- Hives (urticaria)
- Itchy skin
- Swelling (angiodems)
- Red skin
- Nausea
- Respiratory problems
- Stomach cramps
- Anaphylaxis

Some people with egg allergies have severe allergic reactions which are potentially fatal. This type of reaction is called anaphylaxis and causes severe breathing problems. Anaphylaxis requires the use of an epinephrine shot to reverse the symptoms.
Step 2

Know the treatments for egg allergies. The most common treatment is to simply remove all egg components from your diet. This means that you'll be required to read food labels and look for egg products. Since most products don't list “eggs” as a common ingredient, you’ll be looking for things such as albumin, globulin, and livetin. If you are allergic to eggs, it is also necessary to avoid breathing in the gases which are produced while cooking eggs.

Another treatment for egg allergies includes the use of medications such as antihistamines and bronchodilators. Some doctors will recommend steroids to help with eczema. Eczema is very common for people with an intolerance to eggs.

There is also some evidence that desensitization therapy works to help fix egg allergies This type of therapy involves increasing the quantities of egg consumption over a period of time which slowly makes the body tolerant of this as an allergen.
Step 3

Know how to prevent egg allergies. You can avoid having an allergic reaction to eggs if you cut them from your diet completely. There are many foods nowadays that are egg free. Consider using egg replacers for baked goods and egg free pasta. There are also many manufacturers that produce baking goods and other products that are egg free for people that have egg allergies.

Comments

juliemcmurchie said

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on 6/4/2009 I do have a severe egg allergy, however I did not know that eczema could be related to this. People with egg allergies should also be aware that flu vaccines may have traces of egg. Alert your doctor to your allergy before taking the vaccine.