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