Infant Egg Allergies

Since egg white contains four proteins that are allergenic (this can be mild or severe), most pediatricians recommend waiting until your infant is one year old to feed her egg. Others say eight months is safe. Dr. Franklin Greer or Wisconsin University goes further, stating new evidence shows introducing eggs after six months of age does not necessarily increase the chance of egg allergies. If there is a history of egg allergy in the family, it may be wise to wait until after one year to introduce eggs.

Egg Allergy Defined

• The proteins in egg white are commonly mistaken for being harmful by the body of an allergic baby. The most allergic protein is ovalbumin, comprising 50 percent of the egg white. As with any allergy, the body of an egg-allergic baby releases antibodies, which release histamines. These chemicals cause common allergy symptoms, like runny nose, itchy red eyes and anaphylaxis. It is very rare for a person to be allergic to egg yolk. It is the egg white, or albumen, that causes allergic reaction in some babies.

Symptoms of Egg Allergies

• Egg allergy symptoms include stuffy or runny nose; red, itchy watery eyes; rash; diarrhea; stomach gas, bloating or indigestion; nausea; any swelling or rash on the lips and inside the mouth; vomiting; wheezing or trouble breathing. If these symptoms occur, remove egg from your baby's diet, and contact his pediatrician. Many babies who have egg allergies will have an aversion to eggs. It may taste bitter to them or give a tingling feeling.

Skin Prick Diagnosing

• Your doctor can test your baby by placing a small amount of protein just under your baby's skin. If she is allergic, she will develop a small bump resembling an insect bite, or weal. For an infant or toddler, if the weal is 3 to 4 mm. around, the allergy is mild. If it is larger than 5 mm., however, the allergy is probably more significant.

Ingredients to Avoid

• The following ingredients should be avoided if your baby is allergic to eggs: egg white (yolk, white and powdered), eggnog, globulin, mayonnaise, meringue, ovalbumin, ovomucin, ovomucoid, ovovitellin and simpleese. Also note that baked goods with a yellow or clear glaze may have egg.

Egg Substitutes

• For babies with severe egg allergies, even baked goods containing eggs are off limits. There are adequate ingredient substitutes, however. For leavening, you can substitute eggs with two tbsp. carbonated water and two tbsp. baking flour, one tbsp. of yeast dissolved in a quarter cup of water, one tbsp. of cornstarch dissolved in three tbsp. of water, or one tbsp. of soy flour dissolved in one tbsp. of water. For binding, substitute half a large banana, a quarter cup of applesauce of puréed prunes, one tbsp. ground flax seed mixed with one tbsp. water, a quarter cup of soft tofu, or a quarter cup of soy milk.