General Information

  • Reactions to food are common and can be divided into two categories, those caused by food allergy and all other reactions

  • Food allergies develop when the body's immune system has an abnormal reaction to one or more proteins in a food that can lead to serious allergic reactions

  • Other food reactions are not caused by the immune system but can cause unpleasant symptoms (examples include lactose intolerance, heartburn, food poisoning, and sensitivities)

  • Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies

 

Egg Avoidance

  • Tell anyone with regular contact with you or your child about the allergy and avoidance of egg

  • Read labels every time you buy something. Manufacturers can change products at any time

  • Be aware of cross contamination (transfer of egg to a food that does not normally have egg as an ingredient)

  • Avoid foods that contain egg in all forms including - Whole/solid eggs

    • Egg white

    • Egg yolk

    • Dried and powdered eggs

    • Egg from other animals such as duck, turkey, goose, quail

  • Food ingredients that indicate or may indicate the presence of egg protein

    • Albumin / Albumen

    • Meringue

    • Ovomucoid

    • Conalbumin

    • Ovalbumin

    • Ovotransferrin

    • Egg substitutes

    • Ovoglobulin

    • Ovovitellin

    • Globulin

    • Ovolactohydrolyze proteins

    • Silico-albuminate

    • Livetin

    • Ovomacroglobulin

    • Simplesse (fat substitute)

    • Lysozyme

    • Ovomucin

    • Vitellin

  • Some foods that contain or may contain egg protein

    • Alcoholic drinks / cocktails

    • Glazes

    • Newburg sauce

    • Baby food

    • Hamburgers

    • Nougat

    • Baked goods (cake, bread)

    • Hollandaise sauce

    • Pancakes

    • Battered and fried foods

    • Hot dogs

    • Pasta (egg noodle)

    • Bearnaise sauce

    • Icing

    • Pudding

    • Candy

    • Macaroni

    • Ice cream

    • Chocolate

    • Marshmallows

    • Quiche

    • Creamy dressing

    • Marzipan

    • Salad dressing

    • Custard

    • Mayonnaise

    • Souffle

    • Egg nog

    • Meatballs

    • Spreads

    • Fish mixtures

    • Meatloaf

    • Surimi

    • French toast

    • Meringue

    • Waffles

Allergic Reactions

  • Symptoms often occur within minutes up to 2 hours of exposure to egg

  • Outside Symptoms

    • Face: Redness, itchy eyes / nose, swelling

    • Skin: Itching, redness, hives, swelling

  • Inside Symptoms

    • Face: Swelling lips and tongue, itchy mouth

    • Throat: Itching, tightness, hoarse voice, cough

    • Lungs: Trouble breathing, shortness of breath

    • Stomach: Vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea

    • General: Dizzy, unsteady, drowsy, fainting

  • Not every reaction will look the same, a person can have different symptoms each time

  • Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening, there is no way to predict if the reaction will be

  • mild or severe

  • Anaphylaxis is a severe life threatening reaction with more than one body system affected (skin, breathing, stomach, general) and can occur WITHOUT skin symptoms such as hives

 

Treatment of Reactions

  • Antihistamines such as Benadryl will NOT stop severe reactions

  • An epinephrine auto-injector such as Allerject or EpiPen MUST be available at all times

  • If you are visiting an area without access to a hospital you should have 2 auto-injectors available

  • A medical identification device such a Medical Alert bracelet should be worn to outline the food allergy and that an epinephrine auto-injector is carried

  • Give epinephrine in the outer thigh if there are any of the following symptoms (listed in the table on the previous page)

    • General symptoms

    • Severe outside symptoms

    • -Any inside symptoms

    • If you are in doubt, give the epinephrine

  • After epinephrine is given

    • Lie down / lie your child down

    • Call local emergency service and tell them someone is having an allergic reaction

    • If the reaction continues or worsens, give a second dose of epinephrine in 5 - 15 minutes(there is only 1 dose of epinephrine in each auto-injector, a second dose requires a new auto-injector)

    • Go to the nearest emergency room even if the symptoms are gone because the reaction can worsen or come back

    • Stay in the hospital for at least 4 - 6 hours of observation

  

Outcomes for Egg Allergic Patients 

  • About 80 - 90% of people outgrow the egg allergy

  • Repeat skin testing and blood work every 1 - 2 years will help determine if the allergy is outgrown

  • An oral food challenge (eating egg products in small steps ONLY in the doctors office) will be offered if your doctor feels it is safe

  • Egg products should NEVER be tried outside of a doctors office to see if the allergy is outgrown 

  • Some patients are able to tolerate baked forms of egg. This will be advised by your doctor.

  • NEVER try baked egg products for the first time outside a doctors office

 

Additional information: www.anaphylaxis.ca or www.foodallergy.org