Can you outgrow an egg intolerance?
Yes, it is possible to no longer react to egg by cutting them out for a period of weeks before reintroducing them back into your diet.
When eliminating eggs, it is important that they are replaced with nutritious alternatives to ensure that your diet remains balanced.
What is the difference between an egg intolerance and an egg allergy?
What are the symptoms of being allergic to egg?
The symptoms of an egg allergy are much more severe than those of an intolerance and, in extreme cases, an allergic reaction can even be life threatening. Symptoms of an egg allergy could include:
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Skin issues such as swelling, rashes or hives
- Sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose
- Stomach pain, vomiting, nausea or diarrhoea
- Anaphylaxis – hypersensitive reaction, which can be life threatening
How long does it take for an egg allergy to show?
Unlike the effects of an intolerance, egg allergy symptoms present themselves very quickly after consumption of the food. In some circumstances, they can even happen after those with a severe allergy have merely touched egg.
An allergic reaction to eggs occurs because the body is mistaking the food for a harmful substance. The immune system therefore releases chemicals such as histamine, which can result in a range of severe symptoms. In extreme cases, these allergic reactions can be life threatening.
Is there a test for an egg allergy?
If you suspect that you are allergic to egg, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. They are likely to refer you to an allergy clinic. Here they may perform a skin-prick test or carry out a blood test to assess the level of IgE antibodies present when your sample is exposed to eggs.
How do I get tested for an egg intolerance?
Whilst symptoms associated with an egg intolerance are less extreme than an allergic reaction, they can still be very disruptive to a person’s life. Once your GP has ruled out any underlying medical conditions, you can obtain a food intolerance test from yorktest.
There are no specific egg intolerance tests, and food intolerance tests in general are not currently offered on the NHS. However, yorktest have been providing food intolerance* tests privately for over 35 years. Their tests include a check for egg specific IgG antibody reactions.
With a simple home-to-laboratory finger-prick test, yorktest can tell you whether or not your body is producing IgG antibody reactions to the food and drinks that you are consuming.
As individuals, our reactions to food and drink varies a great deal and an ingredient that causes a problem for one person could be completely okay for another. Fortunately our team are on hand to identify your own personal “food fingerprint”.
It is thought that 45% of people have some kind of intolerance and usually, it is more than one ingredient that the body is reacting to. We find that the average person who is intolerant* reacts to 4 or 5 ingredients and it can often be something unexpected in your diet, which is causing an IgG reaction.
