If you think your child might be allergic to eggs, you're not alone, because eggs are one of the most widespread allergy-causing foods in babies and young children, affecting about 1.5 percent. "An egg allergy usually begins when kids are very young, but most outgrow the allergy by age 5," according to KidsHealth.org, the health information website from the nonprofit Nemours Foundation. The symptoms can vary from kid to kid, and may show up anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after eating something containing eggs. Unfortunately, eggs are hidden in a lot of prepared foods.
Skin Reactions
The most common reaction to egg allergies is easy to see, because it shows up on the skin. It can take the form of hives, which is a bumpy red rash; eczema, which is an itchy, scaly rash, often with blisters; swelling and redness around the mouth; or some other type of inflammation of the skin.
Respiratory Reactions
Allergic reactions to eggs that affect the respiratory tract can mimic other types of allergies by affecting the eyes, nose or throat. These types of reactions can take the form of itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and nasal inflammation, also known as rhinitis. Eggs can even trigger allergic asthma, including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
Gastrointestinal Reactions
Gastrointestinal symptoms can occur anywhere along the digestive tract and include such discomforts as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea.
Anaphylaxis
It's not as common as other symptoms, but some kids can experience anaphylaxis, a severe and even life-threatening allergic reaction. Within minutes of eating eggs, it causes swelling of the mouth, a lump in the throat and constricted airways, which make breathing difficult. This is accompanied by a serious drop in blood pressure, which can cause a child to become dizzy, pass out or go into shock very quickly. Other symptoms include a rapid pulse and abdominal pain.
It's a medical emergency that needs to be treated with a shot of adrenaline called epinephrine, and any child experiencing it should go to the emergency room, advises MayoClinic.com, the informational online resource associated with the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. "For kids who are especially sensitive to eggs, even egg fumes or getting egg on the skin can cause an anaphylactic reaction, so eggs should be kept out of the house completely," according to KidsHealth.
