Egg AllergyAn allergic reaction is a body's response to what it perceives to be aharmful substance. In the case of an

egg allergy

, the immune systemthinks that proteins in egg whites or egg yolks are a threat so ittriggers IgE (immunoglobulin) antibodies to get rid of the proteins. TheIgE proteins in turn, signal the release of histamine, which causes theallergic symptoms like hives, swelling, abdominal cramps and vomitingthat are common with an egg allergy. Eggs are one of eight triggerfoods that cause 90% of all food allergy reactions.Because egg allergy most often occurs first in young children, expertsbelieve it is caused by an immature immune system. Many kidsoutgrow it by the time they are five years old. Doctors recommenddelaying the introduction of egg into a baby's diet until the baby is oneyear old, as a precaution against the development of an egg allergy.An allergy is often discovered when a young child experiencessymptoms after eating egg. The child may exhibit any of the followingsymptoms:• Itching or irritation of the mouth or throat• Swelling or flushing of lips, eyes, throat, tongue, or face• Hives or skin irritation and/or redness• Flare-up of eczema (atopic dermatitis)• Nasal congestion, watery eyes, runny nose• Cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea The allergy can be confirmed by a board certified allergist through anumber of tests. They can use a skin test and measure the hives thatresult when egg protein is placed with a prick on the skin. Or, they canmeasure the IgE levels in a person's blood sample when it is exposedto egg protein.Egg allergies can be very serious. They can cause a severe, multi-system life-threatening allergic condition called anaphylaxis. The onlytreatment for anaphylaxis is a shot of epinephrine, which must beadministered as soon as possible after a serious reaction is identified.Early warning signs of anaphylaxis include wheezing, coughing,shortness of breath and hoarseness. These are signs that the airwaysare constricted. A headache, pallid complexion and blue lips are alsosigns that the body is not getting enough oxygen. Dizziness and/or asense of impending doom often precede a full-blown anaphylacticevent. If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, they mustseek emergency treatment immediately.