Recognizing the Symptoms of Egg Allergies

For infants and young children egg allergies are among the most common food allergies. This allergy can prove to be challenging for parents as eggs are present in most of the food that children eat. Eggs being a "hidden" ingredients make the allergy difficult to diagnose. Most kids will outgrow the allergy by the age of five; their bodies mistakenly think that the egg is a danger to them. Determining that someone has an allergy to eggs is done by the process of elimination.

The allergy can make itself known on the skin with hives (a red, bumpy rash that itches) or eczema (a topic dermatitis). This reaction is very common among children and they have it more often than adults do.

Stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting can occur as symptoms present themselves in the gastrointestinal tract.The respiratory tract can also be affected with symptoms appearing in the form of something as mild as a runny nose and sneezing. They can be more severe with the onset of asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.

There are those with more severe reactions to eggs such as anaphylaxis. This is when the mouth, throat and the airways leading to the lungs swell and make breathing near impossible. This also leads to a drop in blood pressure that can make someone pass out and lead to anaphylactic shock. Eggs should be kept out of the home with people that have this reaction as even the smell of eggs can set the reaction of anaphylaxis off.

People with egg allergies should talk about alternatives to the flu vaccine with their doctor. The flu vaccine is cultured in chicken eggs so there is a potential reaction in patients with egg allergies receiving the influenza vaccine. Tami flu is safe for those with egg allergies.

Those with an allergy to eggs should avoid them by checking ingredients to make sure not even egg whites are contained in them. The most common allergy is to the proteins of the egg white although some are allergic to the yolk of the egg. The labels should also be check for things such as albumin, globulin, lecithin, livetin, lysozyme, and several other things that suggest egg proteins are present. Special attention must also be paid to how these items are used in the product you are inspecting.

Some medications, creams, ointments and cosmetics also contain eggs. If you suspect an egg allergy ask your doctor about a skin prick test to determine if eggs are the cause of the reactions you are having.

Sources:
http://foodallergies.about.com/od/eggallergies/p/eggallergies.htm
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/allergies/egg_allergy.html
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/egg-allergy
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9⊂=20&cont=523