Egg allergy
Egg allergy is common in children and often outgrown.
About egg allergy
Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in young children, and the good news is that many children outgrow it as they get older. It is usually an IgE-mediated allergy to proteins in egg, most of which are found in the egg white rather than the yolk. Egg is a named allergen on UK food labels. Some children have non-IgE reactions that come on more slowly, but the immediate IgE type is the main focus here.
Symptoms of the immediate type usually begin within minutes and can include an itchy mouth, hives, facial swelling, vomiting, wheezing and, at the severe end, anaphylaxis with breathing difficulty or collapse. Importantly, many children who react to raw or lightly cooked egg tolerate egg that is well cooked or baked into cakes and biscuits, because heat changes the proteins; this should only be explored under medical guidance. Most routine childhood vaccines are safe in egg allergy, though specialist advice is sometimes given for certain vaccines.
Diagnosis is made by an allergy specialist using the history with skin-prick or specific-IgE blood tests, and supervised food challenges to confirm the diagnosis or check whether it has been outgrown. Management means avoiding egg in the forms that cause reactions and reading labels for egg, albumen and related terms. People at risk of severe reactions carry an adrenaline auto-injector. A severe reaction is a medical emergency: use adrenaline and call 999.
Common triggers
- Eggs and egg powder\nMayonnaise and some sauces\nCakes, pastries and meringue
Symptoms
- Itching or tingling in the mouth
- Hives, itching or eczema
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat
- Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- In severe cases, anaphylaxis
Avoidance & management
- Read ingredient labels every time
- Ask about ingredients and cross-contamination when eating out
- Keep the food out of shared cooking areas
- Carry prescribed antihistamines or an adrenaline auto-injector
- Seek emergency help for any severe reaction
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.