Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSevere SymptomsMild SymptomsTreatmentPreventionNew SymptomsSeeking CareReading Food Labels
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Severe Symptoms
Mild Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention
New Symptoms
Seeking Care
Reading Food Labels
You may have anegg allergyor sensitivity if you have an upset stomach or feel bloated after eating eggs. It’s unpleasant but not too serious.
However, symptoms such asshortness of breath, chest tightness, and vomiting are signs of a severe egg allergy. An allergic reaction is an exaggerated immune system response that can be life-threatening.
This article discusses new or sudden mild to severe egg allergy symptoms and what to do in a life-threatening emergency.
Tatiana Maksimova / Getty Images
What to Do Immediately for Severe Egg Allergy Symptoms
Anaphylaxisand anaphylactic shock (lack of blood flow to vital organs) are life-threatening allergic reactions. It involves symptoms from two or more body systems simultaneously, such as skin, mouth, digestive, respiratory, and heart.The person will look like they can’t breathe, they’re swelling up, or ready to pass out.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. The first-line treatment isepinephrine injection(EpiPen).If you have one, inject it immediately. Any delay could make the reaction more severe. Even if the person improves, they still need medical supervision because symptoms can last longer or even recur.
Symptoms usually start within five to 30 minutes but sometimes take more than an hour after contact with theallergen.Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:
Symptoms typically peak within 30 minutes but can last a few hours.
Food Allergy, Intolerance, SensitivityYou may wonder if you’re allergic if you have minor symptoms after eating eggs. Here’s the difference:Food intolerance: Trouble digesting certain foods, with no threat to your lifeFood sensitivity: When a reaction to a food causes stomach pain but is not life-threatening, does not involve the immune system, and can come and goFood allergy: When your immune system has an exaggerated response to a seemingly harmless food, causing trouble with breathing and blood pressure, which can become life-threatening
Food Allergy, Intolerance, Sensitivity
You may wonder if you’re allergic if you have minor symptoms after eating eggs. Here’s the difference:Food intolerance: Trouble digesting certain foods, with no threat to your lifeFood sensitivity: When a reaction to a food causes stomach pain but is not life-threatening, does not involve the immune system, and can come and goFood allergy: When your immune system has an exaggerated response to a seemingly harmless food, causing trouble with breathing and blood pressure, which can become life-threatening
You may wonder if you’re allergic if you have minor symptoms after eating eggs. Here’s the difference:
Mild Egg Allergy Symptoms
An allergic reaction typically involves several symptoms.Mild to moderate egg allergy symptoms may include:
How to Treat Mild Symptoms
If you start to have symptoms while eating, stop eating immediately. You may not be aware that the food you’re eating contains eggs.
Over-the-counter (OTC)antihistaminescan often relieve mild symptoms of food allergies within a few hours. Even if previous reactions were mild, allergic reactions could lead to anaphylaxis.A healthcare provider may prescribe an EpiPen, so you’re always prepared.
Preventing Egg Allergy Symptoms in Children
You can’t always prevent allergies from developing. However, research suggests that introducing eggs into your child’s diet at 4 to 6 months of age may help lower the chance of an egg allergy.
If your child has a diagnosed egg allergy, always keep the epinephrine pen with you. The best way to prevent symptoms is to avoid eggs. Even small amounts can cause a severe reaction.
Egg allergy is common among young children, but almost two-thirds of children with egg allergy can eat eggs in baked goods without incident.Children commonly outgrow an egg allergy.
New Egg Allergy Symptoms in Children or Adults
If you’ve been enjoying eggs your whole life, you may be surprised when you have a sudden bad reaction. However, developing a new allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance at any point is possible.
If you suddenly feel congested, sick to your stomach, or get a rash after eating eggs, it’s worth seeing a healthcare provider to determine the cause.
Working With an Allergist
Consider seeing anallergistif you think you have an allergy. These board-certified specialists can perform tests to determine if you’re allergic to eggs or have an intolerance or sensitivity.
They can help you strategizehow to avoid eggsand treat mild symptoms if you accidentally eat them. They can also prescribe epinephrine, so you can always have it.
A few vaccinescontain egg protein, but that doesn’t mean you must skip all. Your allergist can tell you if there are specific vaccines to avoid and, if so, what your alternatives are.
When using the term “egg allergy,” most people are referring to chicken eggs. But proteins in chicken eggs are similar to those in duck, goose, quail, and other bird eggs.Both egg whites and egg yolk contain these proteins, but research suggests that egg whites cause more problems than egg yolks. Egg yolk allergies are more likely to affect adults, while egg white allergies tend to affect children.If you have an egg white allergy, healthcare providers also suggest avoiding the yolk.
When using the term “egg allergy,” most people are referring to chicken eggs. But proteins in chicken eggs are similar to those in duck, goose, quail, and other bird eggs.
Both egg whites and egg yolk contain these proteins, but research suggests that egg whites cause more problems than egg yolks. Egg yolk allergies are more likely to affect adults, while egg white allergies tend to affect children.If you have an egg white allergy, healthcare providers also suggest avoiding the yolk.
Terms on Food Labels to Know
Avoiding an egg at breakfast is easy enough, but many foods are made with eggs.Eggsare one of the nine major food allergens, and under federal law, they must be identified on the label.
If the product contains eggs, the label should read, “Contains” eggs, egg yolks, egg whites, etc. If a label says, “May contain,” it means the maker may use the same equipment to make other products that do contain eggs. Putting this on the label is not mandatory, however.
Egg AlternativesWhen cooking or baking, you can try some of these egg alternatives:GroundflaxorchiaseedAquafaba (the liquid in a can of chickpeas)Unsweetened applesauceMashed bananaFull-fat yogurt or sour creamButtermilkSilkentofu
Egg Alternatives
When cooking or baking, you can try some of these egg alternatives:GroundflaxorchiaseedAquafaba (the liquid in a can of chickpeas)Unsweetened applesauceMashed bananaFull-fat yogurt or sour creamButtermilkSilkentofu
When cooking or baking, you can try some of these egg alternatives:
Summary
Egg allergies usually develop in childhood. Fortunately, many children outgrow them. But you can develop a new allergy at any age. You might want to see a healthcare provider if you have sudden egg allergy symptoms, such as digestive upset or sinus problems.
Trouble breathing and throat swelling are signs of a life-threatening allergic reaction. When that happens, you need an epinephrine injection as quickly as possible. An allergist can determine whether you have an intolerance, sensitivity, or full-blown allergy to eggs.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Allergy & Asthma Network.Anaphylaxis.Harvard Health.Epinephrine is the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis: Symptoms & diagnosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anaphylaxis.Harvard Health.Food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Egg allergy.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food allergies: What you need to know.Ierodiakonou D, Garcia-Larsen V, Logan A, et al.Timing of allergenic food introduction to the infant diet and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA.2016;316(11):1181-1192. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.12623Samady W, Warren C, Wang J, Das R, Gupta R.Egg allergy in US children.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.2020;8(9):3066-3073.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2020.04.058Berin MC.Mechanisms that define transient versus persistent food allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019;143(2):453-457. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2018.12.991U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food Allergies.Dona DW, Suphioglu C.Egg allergy: diagnosis and immunotherapy.International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2020;21(14):5010. doi:10.3390/ijms21145010U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Have food allergies? Read the label.Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.Egg allergy diet for children.FARE.Egg allergy.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Allergy & Asthma Network.Anaphylaxis.Harvard Health.Epinephrine is the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis: Symptoms & diagnosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anaphylaxis.Harvard Health.Food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Egg allergy.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food allergies: What you need to know.Ierodiakonou D, Garcia-Larsen V, Logan A, et al.Timing of allergenic food introduction to the infant diet and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA.2016;316(11):1181-1192. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.12623Samady W, Warren C, Wang J, Das R, Gupta R.Egg allergy in US children.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.2020;8(9):3066-3073.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2020.04.058Berin MC.Mechanisms that define transient versus persistent food allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019;143(2):453-457. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2018.12.991U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food Allergies.Dona DW, Suphioglu C.Egg allergy: diagnosis and immunotherapy.International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2020;21(14):5010. doi:10.3390/ijms21145010U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Have food allergies? Read the label.Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.Egg allergy diet for children.FARE.Egg allergy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Allergy & Asthma Network.Anaphylaxis.Harvard Health.Epinephrine is the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis: Symptoms & diagnosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anaphylaxis.Harvard Health.Food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Egg allergy.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food allergies: What you need to know.Ierodiakonou D, Garcia-Larsen V, Logan A, et al.Timing of allergenic food introduction to the infant diet and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA.2016;316(11):1181-1192. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.12623Samady W, Warren C, Wang J, Das R, Gupta R.Egg allergy in US children.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.2020;8(9):3066-3073.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2020.04.058Berin MC.Mechanisms that define transient versus persistent food allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019;143(2):453-457. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2018.12.991U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food Allergies.Dona DW, Suphioglu C.Egg allergy: diagnosis and immunotherapy.International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2020;21(14):5010. doi:10.3390/ijms21145010U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Have food allergies? Read the label.Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.Egg allergy diet for children.FARE.Egg allergy.
Allergy & Asthma Network.Anaphylaxis.
Harvard Health.Epinephrine is the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis.
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Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anaphylaxis.
Harvard Health.Food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Egg allergy.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food allergies: What you need to know.
Ierodiakonou D, Garcia-Larsen V, Logan A, et al.Timing of allergenic food introduction to the infant diet and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA.2016;316(11):1181-1192. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.12623
Samady W, Warren C, Wang J, Das R, Gupta R.Egg allergy in US children.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.2020;8(9):3066-3073.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2020.04.058
Berin MC.Mechanisms that define transient versus persistent food allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019;143(2):453-457. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2018.12.991
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Food Allergies.
Dona DW, Suphioglu C.Egg allergy: diagnosis and immunotherapy.International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2020;21(14):5010. doi:10.3390/ijms21145010
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Have food allergies? Read the label.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.Egg allergy diet for children.
FARE.Egg allergy.
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