One of the most frustrating parts of having an egg allergy is how much it can affect you without your knowledge. Eggs or egg traces are found in more foods than you might think. While the prevalence of this food allergy depends on a number of factors, the great news for North Texans is that relief is possible. Working with a board-certified food allergy specialist can greatly help you manage an egg allergy.
Egg Allergy Basics
As with all food allergies, symptoms are caused by an allergic reaction to proteins – in this case, the proteins within the egg. While there are more than 20 egg proteins, two of them account for most allergic reactions. Ovalbumin and ovomucoid are the main proteins. Interestingly, both are found in egg whites, with reactions to yolk proteins being less common.
Egg allergy affects approximately 2.5% of adults and up to 8% of children worldwide. Symptoms are usually noticed early in life, though the great news is that up to 71% of children outgrow the allergy by age 6! Unfortunately, it is also common for people with egg allergy to be allergic to other foods, like peanuts and milk. To find out exactly which foods are causing distress and to start the allergy management process, you’ll first want to get allergy testing.
Managing Your Egg Allergy
When you visit with your food allergist, they will determine which allergy test is best for diagnosing your food allergy. Typically these include a monitored oral food challenge, blood test, or a skin-prick test. If it is determined that you or your child have an egg allergy, your doctor will establish a comprehensive food allergy management plan.
Initially, your physician may suggest avoidance. It’s certainly important to check labels on packaged foods to make sure eggs are not one of the first three ingredients, or are not included at all. But there are also foods out there that most think are entirely egg-free, but that in fact do contain eggs or traces of egg.
Foods to Avoid for Egg Allergy Patients
These are a few foods that contain eggs that allergy sufferers may need to avoid.
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Custards
- French Toast (other dredged foods)
- Ice creams (only some)
- Marshmallows
- Mayonnaise
- Meringue (fresh and baked)
- Pasta
- Pretzels
- Protein Powders
This brief list doesn’t begin to cover all affected foods, but by working with your allergist you can determine which ones work for you. It’s also good to know that there are many egg substitutes available, so your diet doesn’t take a big hit, and recipes can still turn out with great structure and flavor.
Treatment Options for Managing an Egg Allergy
While avoidance is part of managing an egg allergy, especially in the beginning, your allergist may also suggest other forms of egg ingestions. For example, it has been shown that some patients can have “baked eggs.”
Ovalbumin, the most common egg allergen, is broken down by heat. Eggs baked at a minimum of 350 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes change somewhat—it’s why many people who are allergic to eggs can still enjoy baked goods. And while this doesn’t work for everyone, many allergy patients find that they are able to enjoy eggs in this way.
There are also allergy treatments which make this enjoyment easier. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT or allergy drops) are two innovative treatments your doctor may use to help you manage your food allergy. While not technically “cures,” both use exposure to the allergen in small doses to increase tolerance. While it takes time and discipline, working together with your doctor you can manage your food allergies.
Visit a Board-Certified Allergist for Egg Allergy Treatment
To get a personalized treatment plan for your egg or other food allergy, visit one of our two TexasAllergyMD locations. Dr. Mireku is one of the few food allergists in McKinney/Prosper and Southlake. Request an appointment or call us at (469) 375-1525.
