Symptoms of Egg Allergies
Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
by Dr. Carla Goddard
Egg allergies are common among many young children and most will grow out of the allergy by the time they turn five. The rest will remain allergic for their entire lives. The difficulty with egg allergies is that eggs and egg proteins are in a number of commercially produced products and are not always listed on the label. There are different allergies within eggs; some can be allergic to the egg white proteins, while others are allergic to the yolk. Egg proteins are not just in the foods that are eaten but also in cosmetics, shampoos and even flu vaccines.
Atopic Dermatitis affects one out of ten infants and is caused mostly to allergies and is a sign of an allergy to egg proteins. This is often known as eczema. It is not only infants that can be affected. Although, many infants outgrow the allergy, it is possible for an adult to develop atopic dermatitis from an egg allergy. In an infant this will appear as a rash with small white 'pimples' that are red in center on the infant's cheeks, neck and scalp. It is not a diaper rash. If any of the infected center pimples will ooze fluid and spread over a wider area. In older children it will appear in places such as the inner forearms and the inner elbows. Some may get the 'pimples' on their eyelids and soles of the feet. The difficulty is that this is atopic dermatitis is a symptom of a number of different allergens from bacterial, fungal, or viral infections.
An egg allergy may cause hives. When the hives do not go away it is called chronic urticaria which is commonly caused by an allergy. Unlike the 'pimples' of atopic dermatitis , hives do not have any fluid contained within the centers.
Allergic asthma is another symptom that can occur as a result of allergic reaction to egg proteins. Allergic asthma is characterized with airway obstruction and inflammation which is reversible with medication. Unfortunately, the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same. It can be coughing, wheezing, shortens of breath or chest tightness.
Another symptom of egg protein allergies is what is called rhinitis. This is a runny, stuffed up nose accompanied by a headache in the area around the eyes. It is nearly impossible for a person to be able to determine rhinitis from the common cold with congestion and sinusitis. Although rhinitis is not life threatening in any way, it can make a person miserable with cold like symptoms lasting for long periods of time.
The most serious symptom of egg protein allergies is anaphylaxis. This is when the blood vessels widen so much that a person's blood pressure plummets. To start with a person may become flushed, develop a rash, swelling of lips, sweating, paleness leading into abdominal cramps, rapid pulse, fainting, confusion, or convulsions. Anaphylaxis is a life threatening allergic reaction that if not treated quickly (minutes) it can lead to death. In some the symptoms at first do not seem as urgent as they can include itching in the mouth or throat, hoarseness, or feeling the need to urinate.
If you suspect you or your child is having any signs of anaphylaxis dial 911
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