Egg white

Egg white Scientific Information
Type: Whole Allergen
Display Name: Egg white
Allergen code: f1
Family: Phasianidae
Species: Gallus gallus
Route of Exposure: Ingestion
Latin Name: Gallus spp.
Other Names: Egg white
WHO/ICD-11 code: XM6AD6

Summary

Hen’s egg (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a protein-rich food source and is usually consumed as raw, cooked, or processed. Egg white is rich in proteins and is regarded as highly allergenic. The egg has been considered one of the most common food allergy sources, particularly in infants and children. Around 0.5 – 2.5 % of young children within a normal population have been found to be allergic to eggs. However, the prevalence of egg allergy in adults is less than 0.25 %. Egg sensitization, having IgE antibodies to egg, is a prerequisite for egg allergy. Egg sensitization is more prevalent than egg allergy, and the prevalence rate has been reported to be up to 6 % depending on age. The specific IgE (sIgE) test for egg white is commonly used when investigating a patient with a suspicion of egg allergy. Most egg-allergic children can develop tolerance to egg proteins over time. A patient's highest recorded egg white sIgE is significantly related to the persistence of egg allergy. A higher egg white sIgE value denotes a more extended period to develop tolerance. Egg IgE is predictive of allergy outcome and should be used in counseling patients on prognosis.

Egg white consumption may lead to allergic symptoms, such as gastrointestinal reactions, respiratory symptoms, cutaneous reactions, and anaphylaxis among egg white allergic patients. Therefore, egg-allergic individuals are usually recommended to avoid egg and egg-based food products strictly.

Moreover, egg allergy children are often falsely denied influenza or MMR vaccination as the vaccine might contain a small amount of egg protein. However, several studies and guidelines have claimed these vaccines to be safe for children with egg allergies.

An oral food challenge is considered to be the gold standard for diagnosing egg allergy. Egg sIgE testing can aid in diagnosing egg allergy, indicate when an egg challenge is safe to perform, and is predictive of egg allergy outcome. This means that the egg white test could be utilized in counseling patients on prognosis. Furthermore, egg allergy or egg white sensitization has been found to elevate the risk of developing sensitization to aeroallergens (such as grass pollens, house dust mites, cats, and dogs).

Early introduction of egg into the infants’ diet has been found to be beneficial in developing tolerance to the egg; it is presently studied as a means of primary prevention of egg allergy. Additionally, oral immunotherapy (for egg) is also performed in some countries on egg-allergic patients who fail to develop natural tolerance to the egg.

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