Egg allergy is a type of food allergy, which causes the immune system to mistakenly damage or attack harmless substances present in the egg. Individuals with egg allergies develop antibodies against certain proteins in eggs known as allergens. They typically notice Egg allergy symptoms, ranging from mild to severe reactions, within an hour of eating an egg.
Egg allergy is a common food allergy, along with milk and peanuts, that often affects children, although many outgrow it before adolescence.
Symptoms:
The Symptoms of Egg Allergy are analogous to any other food allergy, the following are the common symptoms:
- stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
- wheezing or trouble breathing
- hives, eczema, or general itching.
- sneezing or coughing
In rare cases, egg allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, which is a medical emergency. If you are a guardian or taking care of a new-born then the typical symptoms of an egg allergy in children are:
- skin contact reactions
- redness of the face
- hives around the mouth
Diagnosis:
If you or your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s important to seek a diagnosis by consulting a doctor or expert. During the medical examination, the doctor will take your medical history and would use a blood test, skin prick tests, or oral food challenges also may be used, to rule out other conditions that could cause symptoms, including egg allergy.
After confirming the egg allergy, your doctor will advise an elimination diet to avoid consuming eggs. Because, as of today, there are no cures or treatments for any type of food allergy.
Treatment:
The only treatment for Egg allergy is eliminating it from the daily diet. Although we can not ignore the nutritional values of eggs, thus it is important to look for better replaceable alternatives.
To avoid eggs from your diet, It is important to check the labels on food products before buying them. For Instance, think of yourself in the situation of buying and checking the food label on goods like bread, cake, pasta, and salad dressings, this will avoid your exposure to eggs. You may also need to inform the restaurant about your food allergy before placing any order. If you struggle with reading labels or avoiding eggs, check ASCIA’s dietary guides for egg allergies. Also, it is important to seek a medical emergency in case of symptoms like severe reactions. Certainly following a good nutritional plan would be helpful to avoid malnutrition.
However, it does not mean that being egg-allergic means you have to avoid all your favorite foods because it is also possible to make foods like cakes and muffins without eggs by adapting recipes you use at home or using commercial egg replacers which are suitable for baking. But you should completely avoid dishes like Scrambled eggs which chiefly include eggs.
Furthermore, You can also consult a registered dietitian to ensure yours nutritional needs are met. Additionally, those with severe egg allergy reactions should always carry an EpiPen in case of anaphylaxis.
How To Be Careful Of Egg Allergy
Being an Egg Allergic, you need to be cautious all the time. We have already discussed protecting yourself from direct egg exposure, but people with the allergy should also be vigilant about indirect exposure like vaccinations containing egg protein.
Thus, it is important to give out your background and talk about your allergy to a doctor before taking any vaccinations or any other drugs.
