Egg allergy, please come and talk to me

[HeiligFeierabend]

DD2 (7mo) is due to have the swine flu jab next Monday. As it's going to be the Pandemrix one, I thought I'd better try her on some egg before, so gave her a bit of pancake (tiny bits really) on Sunday. She was fine. Then today, dabbed a bit of raw egg white on her back (GP mentioned this to me a while ago, as she has mild eczema as well and we discussed weaning and possible allergies) and she came out in a blotchy red rash and hives. She's otherwise fine, and now, about 1-2 hours later the rash has disappeared.

Does this mean that she IS allergic to egg now?

If so, will we have to avoid all products containing egg for the next... how many... years? What other implications are there?

Please share your wisdom and experiences, thanks so much!

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The first time an allergic person eats/touches something they're allergic to, eg egg, there isn't usually a reaction. Instead, they become sensitised to it - that is, the body learns (wrongly!) that egg is a bad thing. It's not until the second time the body comes across it that you get an allergic reaction. So it may well be that your DD is allergic.

I'd recommend you go back to your GP and tell them what's happened. You should at least be prescribed an antihistamine like Piriton to cope with future reactions, and hopefully you'll get a referral to an allergy specialist - you mention eczema and being worried about allergies, it's unlikely but possible that she has more than one allergy and skin prick tests may be done to check this out.

Don't panic! But I personally wouldn't give her Pandemrix, ask your surgery when/if they're getting Celvapan, which is safe for people with egg allergy. And meanwhile, have a look at the Allergy UK website, they have lots of info that should help you, or at least give you plenty of questions for the GP!

Hope that helps.

I'd make an appointment with your GP asap - before the jab is due.

My DS had an anaphylactic reaction to egg at 6 months old and had to be hospitalised. He is fine now (5yrs) and has outgrown his allergy. He did an 'egg challenge' (at roughly 2yrs) at the hospital to see if he was allergic to 'hidden egg', i.e. egg in baked products and was fine. Then a full challenge at 3yrs when they gave him scrambled egg - fine again.

It is certainly possible that your DD may grow out of it. Some egg allergy sufferers can tolerate hidden/cooked egg, or just the yolk.

The hidden egg is the hardest one to watch as it means checking anything that's processed. I made most things from scratch - there are some great recipes on websites. We have also been advised to avoid nuts until DS is 7.

Weaning was fine. Avoiding egg wasn't too difficult. The numerous birthday parties later on were more of a headache!

I would speak to your GP and explain your DD's reaction.

Thanks, yes I made an appointment with the GP straight away. I am not too worried about avoiding egg except when it comes to parties and play dates and babysitters... I don't think I'd trust anyone to check ingredients lists properly I have nut allergies myself so am used to reading ingredients lists anyway.

Think I'll stay away from the jab then... and none of my dds will have nuts for a while yet anyway because of my own allergy.

Hi,
My 2 1/2 year old has egg allergy (as well as nut allergy). The thing with egg is that the more processed it is (in any way, cooked, boiled, whatever) the more it loses the allergenic bit.
My daughter can't have scrambled egg for example but has veggie sausages and ham with egg in it and no issue at all. She hasn't had a swine flu jab but has had her MMR which also has egg in it and was fine.
But the best way to do it is to have the skin prick test obviously.
Don't know if this helps at all.

Thanks andagain, yes I am wondering if DD2 would be fine with things like cake. The only way to find out is to try it and have Piriton to hand I take it? How did YOU find out what she can have?