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.
BACKGROUND
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.


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


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).
Fadeeva
T
T
The Maternity and Children's Vall d'Hebron Hospital, Allergy Department, Barcelona, Spain. tatiana.fadeeeva@gmail.com
Asin
J L Eseverri
JL
Horrillo
M Labrador
ML
Baraut
T Garriga
TG
Vela
R F Ocaña
RF
Conde
S L Romero
SL
Hontoria
O Esteso
OE
Valero
C Blasco
CB
Molina
A M Marin
AM
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating; D021181:Egg Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004531:Eggs / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C421864:hen egg lysozyme; D009113:Muramidase