Allergie EI/EGG
[Manish Bhatia ]
Egg allergy is very common. It is estimated that around 2% children are
allergic to eggs.
Eggs are made up of about 60% egg white and 35% egg yolk. The egg white
appears to be slightly more allergenic than the egg yolk. Over 50% of the egg
white is composed of protein ovalbumin. The rest is made up from
ovotransferrin, ovomucoid, ovomucin, and lysozyme. Other minor proteins include
ovoflavoprotein, ovodin, ovomacroglobulin and cystine. The major egg white
allergens are ovomucoid, with designated allergen name of Gal d 1, and
ovabumin, designated allergen name Gal d 2.
The protein found in egg yolk include lipovittelin, phosvitin, egg yolk
specific lipoprotein and apovittelin I and IV. It has been proposed that egg
allergy in children is caused by egg white proteins and in adults by livetins
in the egg yolk.
Both of the major egg white allergen, ovomucoid and ovalbumin are
resistant to denaturation and enzymic digestion. But cooked egg appears to be
less allergenic than raw egg.
Egg allergies may trigger symptoms quickly (hives, asthma, watery eyes,
swelling, and nausea) shortly after the egg is consumed. Alternately, a delayed
sensitivity with symptoms such as headache, diarrhea, or constipation, can
develop hours after the food is consumed.
Egg allergy is significant not only because egg is hidden in many foods
(in cakes/biscuits/pastries/some breads/many sauces), but it is also used in
the manufacture of some vaccines.
Egg allergy, symptoms and treatment
This condition gets diagnosed early in childhood because the children
start developing pain in abdomen and diarrhea or asthmatic breathing or skin
allergy after they consume eggs or any food article that contains eggs like
bread, cake, biscuits etc.
Common symptoms are:
Respiratory symptoms
Wheezing
Coughing
Runny nose
Skin symptoms
Eczema
Urticaria /hives
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Nausea
Pain in abdomen
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Other allergic symptoms mainly include
Red, watery, itchy eyes
Swelling of face, tongue, and
lips
Egg allergy may also cause
anaphylaxis in hyper reactions.
Egg allergy diagnosis
Diagnosis mainly include detailed investigations for sign and symptoms,
physical examination, history of diet, elimination diet and studying symptoms.
Egg allergy tests mainly include skin tests and blood tests.
Egg Allergy Treatment
There are no drugs available to treat allergy to eggs. Desensitization
can help a certain people to cure their egg allergy. The good news is that up
to 70% children grow out
of this allergic reaction to eggs by the time they turn 16.
Homeopathic treatment for egg allergy
Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The
selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms
similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a
state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms
from which the patient is suffering.
The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat egg allergy but to address
its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic
medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat egg allergy
that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the
complaints.
For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should
consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies
which are helpful in the treatment of allergic reaction and symptoms after
consuming eggs:
Colch. Puls. Ferr-met. Ferr-m. Sulph. Calc. Androc. Calc-f. Chin. Ars.
Cocc-i. Led. Merc. Bry. Nux-v. Nat-m. Musa and other medicines for symptoms of
egg allergy.
Rubrics for Egg Allergy
Generals: Food and Drinks: < Egg
Diarrhoea: after Eggs: Chin-ars. Lyc.
Nausea after Eggs: Ferr-met. Colch. Sycococcus
Eructations after eggs after: Citrulus
Coryza after Eggs: Sycoccocus
Eruptions, Urticaria, Nettle-rash after eggs: Astac. Tela.
This list of remedies and symptoms for egg allergy is neither
exhaustive, nor complete. Please consult your general physician in person to
find out about its symptoms and treatment. For homeopathy treatment of
allergies, consult a qualified homeopath/doctor in person.