According to allergy specialist, Dr Peter Saul, an allergic reaction to eggs is most commonly seen in young children. It is also likely that the child will grow out of the allergy by the age of three or four.

The type of allergic reaction seen in children with egg allergies is often severe. For this reason it is important to do extensive allergy testing to ensure that the child is no longer allergic.

Egg allergy testing of this nature is done by a skin prick test to look for a reaction on the skin. Part of the testing also involves asking the parents if the child has had any accidental contact with eggs and whether a reaction occurred.

If the skin prick test is negative it suggests that the child may have grown out of the egg allergy. However, skin prick and blood tests are not 100 percent accurate so to be certain that the child is no longer allergic to eggs further testing is undertaken in a controlled environment.

The “egg challenge” takes place either in the ward or as an outpatient. It involves asking one of the parents to cook scrambled eggs at home and bring it with them to the testing. First some egg is put on the child’s skin. After thirty minutes, egg is put on their lips and tongue, and the child is asked to swallow a small amount.

If at any point the child’s skin or lips begin to swell or they feel a tingling sensation in their mouth then the test is stopped and the child is considered to still be allergic. The parents will be asked to wait another year before the child is tested again.

If the “egg challenge” produces no allergic reaction then the child is considered to no longer have an egg allergy and is able to have eggs in their diet.

Dr Peter Saul, MB ChB DRCOG DCH MRCGP Allergy Specialist

10001 September 2011