Egg Allergy

Definition

An egg allergy is a condition where the immune system reacts abnormally to egg proteins, causing symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Egg allergy is an immunological response where the body's immune system identifies proteins found in eggs (usually ovalbumin in egg whites or occasionally ovomucoid) as harmful, triggering allergic reactions that can range from skin rashes to anaphylaxis.

Benefits

Examples

• Avoidance of eggs and egg-derived products like mayonnaise, some baked goods, and egg noodles.
• Reading food labels for ingredients like albumin or ovo protein.

Additional Information

• Known issues: Those with an egg allergy must carefully avoid eggs and products containing egg to prevent allergic reactions, which can range from mild hives to severe anaphylactic shocks.

Related Terms

• Food Allergies
• Milk Allergy
• Peanut Allergy
• Anaphylaxis

References

• Egg Allergy Overview - Mayo Clinic
• Egg Allergy - Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)