Symptoms & Tests Recommended For Egg Allergy In Adults

Submitted by Nic on October 19, 2012

Egg allergy is a type of food allergy generally found in children. Egg allergy in adults is not as common as most children tend to outgrow this allergy by the time they are six. While there are higher incidences of milk allergy in adults, most cases of egg allergy in adults usually begin in childhood or early adulthood or in people who are predisposed to other types of food allergies. Overall, adult-onset egg allergies are very rare.

In adults, most egg allergies are related to egg whites. Only a small amount of cases develop with an egg allergy to yolks or both the egg white and the yolk. People with an allergy to hen's eggs are normally also allergic to eggs of other birds such as quail or goose. Symptoms of an egg allergy in adults appear within a few minutes or hours after exposure or consumption of eggs or egg products.These symptoms can differ from person to person and can include:

  • Hives, eczema or skin rash that appears around the elbows, knees, ankles, neck, face, and hands
  • Swelling of the lips, eyelids, and tongue (angiodema)
  • Constriction of the throat
  • Hay fever or Asthma
  • Watery or itchy eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
  • Itchy, watery, or runny nose
  • Headaches
  • Sinusitis
  • Gastric symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea
  • Breathing difficulties such as wheezing and coughing
  • In rare cases, symptoms of egg allergy can escalate into a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis.

Anaphylactic shock symptoms include tightness of the throat, difficulty breathing, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, rapid pulse rates and a sudden drop in blood pressure. If any of these symptoms occur, immediate medical attention is required or it could prove fatal. If you suffer from a severe case of egg allergy, your doctor may recommend that you carry around a portable epinephrine injection to prevent anaphylactic shock.

To confirm that you have an egg allergy, your doctor may recommend several tests including the skin prick test and blood tests.

Till date, there is no known cure for an egg allergy. Living with an egg allergy simply requires avoiding eggs and products containing eggs.

This is actually tougher than it sounds as there a number of products that contain eggs such as ice cream, frosting, noodles, pasta, puddings, cakes, soups, fried foods, sauces, dressings, and batter fried foods.

Always check the labels before buying any products and keep in mind that egg substitutes may also contain traces of egg whites and should be avoided as well.

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