What are some of the main medical treatments for egg allergy?

Avoiding eggs and egg whites is the mainstay of egg allergy management. As eggs are found in many different types of manufactured and home-cooked foods, it’s extremely important to read food labels and ask about ingredients. As a major food allergen, many countries require that “egg” be clearly indicated on the food label or ingredient list of manufactured foods, but this varies between regions. Additionally, egg cross-contamination (i.e., the presence of eggs in a food that doesn’t have egg as an ingredient) can occur in unpackaged grocery or buffet-style foods.^[1]

For managing an acute allergic reaction, second-generation antihistamines (e.g., loratadine, cetirizine) are recommended. First-generation antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine) are also effective but are more likely to cause side effects like drowsiness. For people with a previous severe reaction to egg, adrenaline (aka epinephrine) autoinjectors should be kept on hand in the event of an anaphylactic reaction.^[1]