Results of the oral egg-challenge test performed on two different groups of children. One group with a history, suggestive of allergic reaction with egg intake and the other group sensitised to hen's egg without previous egg intake

Abstract

Introduction: Egg allergy is an adverse immune-system reaction of an IgE-mediated type, which can happen in children after egg intake and several times after their first egg intake.

Objectives: Compare the results of the oral egg-challenge test in two groups of egg-sensitised children, with and without prior intake.

Patients and methods: Retrospective study of two egg-sensitised groups (72 subjects). Group 1: 22 children without prior egg-intake. Group 2: 50 children with a clinical history of adverse reactions after egg intake. Skin prick tests, egg-white specific IgE (sIgE) and yolk specific IgE, were performed on all children. The oral egg-challenge tests were performed after a period of egg-avoidance diet and when egg-white specific IgE levels were lower than 1.5K U/L.

Results: 31.8% of the children in Group 1 did not tolerate egg-intake whereas 38% of the children in Group 2 did not tolerate egg-intake. Egg-avoidance periods lasted 19.5 and 18 months, respectively. Egg-white specific IgE levels went down in both groups after an egg-avoidance diet. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups and the positivity of oral egg-challenge test.

Conclusions: No statistically significant differences were found in the behaviour of the two groups studied. Given the high risk of adverse reactions, it was recommended that any egg-introduction tests were to be performed in a hospital environment on the children who were sensitised to hen's egg (including children without prior egg intake).