Peculiarities of egg allergy in children with bird protein sensitization

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1997 Feb;78(2):213-6. doi: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)63389-3.

Abstract

Background: Hen's egg is frequently implicated in food allergy in children. Sometimes this allergy is associated with bird protein sensitization.

Objective: A study was conducted to establish the possible role of bird protein sensitization in the clinical picture and evolution of egg allergy in patients with both egg and bird sensitization.

Methods: Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics and the results of allergic study of 27 patients with both egg and bird allergy were compared with those of a control group of 19 egg-allergic patients without bird protein sensitization. All patients were evaluated clinically each year during the 4 years subsequent to the beginning of the study or until clinical tolerance to egg was achieved.

Results: Patients with bird sensitization had more frequent digestive and respiratory symptoms related to egg ingestion compared with the control group. At the end of follow-up. 15% of the bird sensitized patients and 58% of the controls tolerated egg. Egg yolk sensitization was the major sensitization in bird-sensitized patients.

Conclusion: It is necessary to exclude sensitization to bird proteins in egg-allergic patients, mainly when they show respiratory or digestive symptoms after egg ingestion, the egg allergy persists over a long period of time or egg yolk sensitization is strong.

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Birds / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / complications
  • Digestive System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Egg Yolk / immunology
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / blood
  • Food Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Food Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / blood
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin E / analysis
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Ovum / immunology*
  • Proteins / immunology*
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / diagnosis
  • Skin Tests

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin E