Egg allergy in children and adults and how it is managed
What it found
Egg allergy is the second most common food allergy in children but is rare in adults.
Symptoms can vary widely and sometimes be severe.
What they found
Studies in people
How common it is
Hen's egg allergy is the second leading cause of food allergy in young children. It is much less common in adults.
Diagnosing egg allergy
Doctors mainly rely on the patient's allergy history. They may add skin tests, blood tests for specific antibodies, or a supervised eating test in some cases.
Managing severe reactions
Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to eggs should carry an emergency kit. They should also see an allergy specialist.
Building tolerance to eggs
For certain chosen patients, gradually introducing small amounts of egg by mouth can help build tolerance. This may improve everyday safety.
Other findings
Avoiding hidden eggs
Completely removing eggs from the diet is recommended but can be hard. Eggs are often present as hidden ingredients in other foods.
What the authors conclude
- They advise that anyone with a severe egg reaction should carry an emergency kit and see a specialist.
- They suggest that slowly building tolerance to eggs by mouth can help selected patients stay safer day to day.
- They note that a check before vaccination is needed only in rare, specific cases.
How it was done
Egg allergy causes a range of symptoms that can be hard for patients and doctors to manage. The authors wanted to outline how it is diagnosed and treated.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This paper describes general clinical practice rather than testing a new treatment. It cannot show how well these approaches work compared to doing nothing.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.
The paper
- Title
- [Egg allergy in children and adults]
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Nigolian H, Caubet JC, Coattrenec Y (2021). [Egg allergy in children and adults]. Revue medicale suisse.PubMed 33830698
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error