Natural history of egg hypersensitivity

Abstract

Twenty-five children with clinical egg hypersensitivity, confirmed by double-blind challenge, were followed for between 2 and 2 1/2 years. Clinical egg hypersensitivity was fund to have resolved in 11 children but was persistent in 14. Skin prick tests reactions to egg were initially of equivalent size in the resolved and persistent groups, but became negative or diminished in size with resolution of clinical egg hypersensitivity, while remaining positive in the group with persisting symptoms. Symptoms after egg ingestion were categorised as cutaneous, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and angioedema. The adverse reactions of the resolved group were either cutaneous or gastrointestinal symptoms. The persisting group had multisystem involvement and most of them developed angioedema and respiratory symptoms. These differences may be useful as prognostic indicators in clinical egg hypersensitivity.