If your child is allergic to chicken eggs, do not deprive them of such sweet pleasures as cookies and other pastries. New studies presented at the ACAAI's annual scientific conference, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, found that 56% of allergic children can tolerate baked chicken eggs, while 55% are completely allergic to this product.
"More than half of the children who react to chicken eggs with various allergic manifestations tolerate them well when they are baked at 350 degrees in dough products," said allergist Rushani Salzman, MD, lead author of the study and a member of ACAAI. “The introduction of a baked egg in a child’s diet will enrich his diet, improve his quality of life, and probably accelerate the development of tolerance for this healthy product.”
Scientists have determined that the average tolerated dose is 2/5 of a baked chicken egg. For the study, the products were baked at a temperature of 350 degrees for at least 30 minutes.
In another study, also presented at the conference, pediatrician Ruchi Gupta, MD, lead author of the study, found that of the eight most common food allergens, children most often develop egg allergies.
"Food tolerance was observed in every fourth child, with 55% getting rid of allegri for eggs by the age of seven," said Dr. Gupta. “Most often, tolerance is formed on foods such as eggs and milk. And only a few kids outgrow allergies to shellfish and nuts.”
If in the past the eggs caused severe allergies in a child, they are less likely to develop this painful condition. Severe symptoms include swelling of the skin and soft tissues, shortness of breath, and a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.
Although the results of these studies are encouraging, parents should be extremely careful when introducing an allergen into their child’s diet. In order to avoid serious consequences, this must be done under the supervision of an allergist.
