Chicken Egg Allergy: Symptoms and Origins of Food Allergy

If you suffer from an egg allergy, you have to do without many foods because eggs are found in many foods. Here you can find out what the symptoms of such an allergy are and how it comes about in the first place.

How does a chicken egg allergy occur?

A chicken egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies worldwide, but what exactly are the causes of the allergic reaction?

• The allergy is usually triggered by the proteins contained in chicken egg white. It is much less common for allergy-promoting substances in the egg yolk to cause a reaction.
• In the case of a chicken egg allergy, the proteins ovomucoid and ovalbumin contained in the egg white trigger an immune response in the body. The immune system reacts to the actually harmless substances by producing antibodies.
• The violent reaction of the immune system can cause a skin rash , abdominal pain and, in the worst case, even an allergic shock.
• People who are allergic only to the protein ovalbumin may eat partially cooked or otherwise processed eggs because high temperatures break down the egg whites.
• Ovomukoid allergy sufferers, on the other hand, have to avoid eggs and products containing eggs completely, because the protein is heat-resistant.

Chicken egg allergy symptoms

In the case of a chicken egg allergy, the whole body is usually affected by the allergic reaction. The following symptoms indicate a chicken protein allergy:

• Swallowing disorders , which are characterized, among other things, by frequent clearing of the throat or coughing when eating. After eating, the voice often sounds mucous or wet.
• Digestive problems occurring after eating , such as abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea or even vomiting.
• Circulatory problems, which can manifest themselves in the form of dizziness and weakness in the body, as well as going black in the eyes.
• Allergic skin reactions , such as redness, wheals or hives that appear suddenly, usually associated with severe itching.
• Swelling on the face can be a sign of an egg allergy. The skin becomes thick, tense and shiny in the affected areas. The lips or the area around the eyes are often affected.
• Asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath can also occur.
• Anaphylactic shock can occur when the reaction affects multiple organs at the same time . This can have fatal consequences, because organ failure, shortness of breath and circulatory arrest can occur in just a few minutes.

What to do if you have a chicken egg allergy?

Once the doctor treating you has diagnosed a chicken egg allergy, you can do the following:

• Allergen avoidance is in most cases the only effective solution to the allergy. Find out from a nutritionist about the foods to avoid from now on, as these include not just eggs themselves, but often sweet baked goods and convenience foods as well.
• Dietary advice can not only help you with which foods you should avoid, but also point out alternatives. For example, foods labeled as vegan do not contain eggs, and there are many different ways to substitute eggs when cooking yourself.
• In the case of very severe and dangerous allergic reactions, doctors often prescribe an emergency anaphylaxis kit that contains an adrenaline auto-injector, cortisone and an antihistamine.
• Less explored is the method of desensitization. Affected people are given a small amount of the allergen at several intervals. The immune system should get used to the substance and even tolerate it at the end of the therapy. However, it is still unclear whether this method also works with a chicken egg allergy.