I have been diagnosed with an egg allergy. How can I avoid an egg-related reaction?

Food allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to certain foods. Often reactions are mild like a rash, stuffy nose, or nausea. Some reactions can cause death.  You may have symptoms after eating trace amounts of a food you are allergic to. Contact with something you are allergic to can result in rapid onset and worsening symptoms. The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis.

Severe reactions can result in breathing difficulties; low blood pressure or shock, unconsciousness and death. Other common symptoms include:

• flushing, hives, and rash
• swelling to eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue
• trouble breathing or swallowing
• anxiety
• diarrhea, vomiting

If you have severe food allergies, epinephrine and antihistamine may be prescribed. Prompt treatment stops or slows an allergic reaction however symptoms can return even after treatment. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have a severe reaction. Be prepared. Keep an allergy kit with you. Wear a medical alert bracelet. Ensure medications are current.

Eggs are one of the top 10 food allergies that cause severe reactions. Sometimes children will outgrow their food allergies. Adults who are allergic to eggs probably will not grow out of it.

Read product labels and avoid foods that do not have ingredients listed.You should avoid all products that contain egg and egg products. This includes items with warnings on the ingredient list "may contain traces of" egg or “may have been in contact with egg products”. The terms or prefixes "ovo" and "albumin"or “albuminate” mean the product contains egg. Other products such as egg substitutes, powdered egg and meringue all contain eggs. Do not eat or use products if you are unsure if it contains eggs or do not recognize ingredients.

Other ways you can be exposed to eggs are cross contamination, skin care products and medications. Cross contamination means transfer of egg ingredients to products that do not normally contain egg products during food preparation, manufacturing or storage. Influenza vaccines are grown in eggs and contain small amounts of egg proteins. Ask your health care provider prior to any immunizations.

For more information about egg allergies, or for available programs and services, contact Health Link Alberta where nurses are available 24-7 to provide health advice and information. Call 1-866-408-LINK (5465) or 780-408-LINK (Edmonton area) or 403-943-LINK (Calgary area).