Egg allergies are the second most common food allergy in children, with around 1.5 percent of children suffering with an allergy to hen’s eggs. Although these aren’t a common allergen for adults, many people do find that they develop the allergy later in life. You can usually spot egg allergy symptoms within a few minutes of eating them or foods which have eggs in them, with the symptoms including skin reactions such as eczema or hives, itchy eyes, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, wheezing and coughing, and swelling of the lips, tongue or face. In some cases, there may even be a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis which requires medical attention. It is possible for some people to be allergic to just the white or yolk of an egg, although you can be allergic to both. This can be tricky, as it is not possible to completely separate a yolk from the white at home, so many people have to avoid eggs altogether when cooking for themselves. People who are allergic to hen’s eggs are often allergic to other species of bird as well, including goose or duck eggs. You can become allergic to just one type of egg and not others, though this is very rare. Most people who have a severe allergy to eggs are contact-reactive, which means that you can’t touch eggs at all, including those from wild birds.
Bird Egg Syndrome is the allergy that develops following an allergy to birds. This is mostly common with people who are exposed to birds for long periods of time, such as those who keep birds as pets. They may become allergic or sensitive to the proteins in the bird’s feathers or faeces, which can lead to an allergy developing. This tends to be more common in women than men or children. Eggs re categorised as one of the eight most common food allergies in the US, so this means that they are covered by the food allergy labelling law – this is known as FALCPA. This requires food manufacturers to list eggs as an ingredient on their food labels. You should still learn the names for egg-based ingredients for bakery goods though, just to be on the safe side and avoid a reaction.
You can’t be cured from egg allergies, as experts have yet to find a treatment that offers long-term benefits. You can, of course, manage your allergy though to avoid any future reactions. If you’ve been diagnosed with an allergy to eggs, your GP will prescribe you an Epi-Pen, known also as an epinephrine auto-injector. This is something you need to carry with you at all times in case of an allergic reaction. However, avoiding eggs is something which sounds really easy but is harder than you may think. Eggs can lurk in a number of foods that are unrecognisable, not just in baked goods and sauces.
Learning about the correct terminology for food labels and asking questions in restaurants are all good habits to develop in order to limit the risk of a reaction. In some cases, children actually outgrow their allergy – studies show that children with egg allergies outgrow it by 4 years old in 4 percent of cases, 12 percent of children outgrow it by the age of six and 37 percent outgrow it by 10 years. By 16 years of age, 68 percent of children have outgrown this food allergy and are able to eat eggs again. Researchers are looking into ways to develop tolerances for children with allergies to egg proteins. Some reports show that children who ate extensively heated eggs in a controlled environment were able to reduce their allergic responses, and others have discovered that oral immunotherapy can work effectively to reduce the allergy.