Health & Medical Healthy Living

Egg Allergy Prevention

    Causes

    • Your immune system mistakenly identifies certain egg proteins as harmful, triggering the production of antibodies to neutralize these proteins. When you come in contact with these proteins again, the antibodies recognize them, and send a signal to the immune system to release histamine and other body chemicals, causing an allergic reaction.

      Allergies to egg whites are more common, although there are a number of proteins in egg yolks that can cause an allergic reaction.

    Risks

    • Factors that may increase your chances of developing an allergy to eggs include:

      - Parents with any type of allergy.

      - Children under age 5: Your digestive tract matures as you grow older, and your body is not as likely to absorb food that triggers allergies.

      - Atopic Dermatitis: Characterized by patches of intensely itchy skin, atopic dermatitis in infants develops on the scalp and face, especially the cheeks. The condition completely resolves in some children by age 2.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms can begin in a few minutes, or a few hours after exposure to egg products. Symptoms include:

      - Hives

      - Allergic asthma

      - Itchy or runny nose

      - Sneezing

      - Congestion

      - Cramps

      - Nausea

      - Vomiting

    Diagnosis

    • Your doctor starts the diagnostic process by taking a complete medical history, and performing a physical examination of the patient.

      The doctor may have you keep a daily diary of the foods you eat. Eggs can be eliminated from the diet, and then eaten again to test for allergic reaction.

      Blood tests may be ordered to measure your immune system's response to eggs, by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your blood stream. A blood sample is sent to a medical laboratory for testing, to determine your sensitivity to eggs.

      In a skin test, the skin is pricked and exposed to small amounts of egg proteins. If you develop a raised bump at the test site, you're allergic to eggs. Skin tests should be performed and interpreted by an allergy specialist.

    Treatment

    • Avoiding eggs and egg products is the only way to prevent the symptoms of an egg allergy. Avoiding eggs is not easy, however, as eggs are a common ingredient in baked goods, puddings, salad dressings, some pastas, mixes, batters and sauces, processed meat, meatloaf, meatballs, and mayonnaise.

      Some people are so allergic to egg protein that they have an allergic reaction just from touching egg products, which includes shampoo, medications, cosmetics and finger paints.

      Treat mild symptoms of allergic reaction, such as runny nose and congestion, with antihistamines.

    Anaphylaxis

    • Anaphylaxis caused by egg allergy can trigger life-threatening symptoms such as airway blockage and difficulty breathing. Treatment with an epinephrine shot, and a trip to the emergency room is necessary.

      Other life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis may include:

      - Constriction of airways, including a swollen throat or a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe

      - Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure

      - Rapid pulse

      - Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness

      Preventative Measures

      Your allergist can prescribe a self-injectable epinephrine shot that you can carry with you, to temporarily reverse life-threatening allergic reactions, while you're waiting to be treated at the hospital. Follow your allergist's instructions to self-administer the epinephrine. Be sure to use the injections before their expiration date.

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