Adult onset egg allergy: a case report

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Allergology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Egg allergy is a common childhood food allergy.
• Adult onset of egg allergy is considered rare.
• This case presents an exception to the typical demographic of egg allergy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of adult onset of egg allergy.
• To investigate the diagnostic pathway for suspected adult-onset food allergies.
• To contribute to the understanding of atypical presentations of IgE-mediated allergies.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 30-year-old male with new-onset gastrointestinal symptoms after egg intake.
• Patient history included smoking, nickel contact dermatitis, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.
• Diagnostic workup involved skin prick testing and serum-specific IgE testing for egg proteins.

Main Results:

• The patient exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms linked to egg consumption.
• Skin prick tests and serum IgE tests indicated sensitization to egg proteins.
• The findings confirmed IgE-mediated sensitization to egg in an adult with no prior history of egg allergy.

Conclusions:

• This case demonstrates that adult onset of IgE-mediated egg allergy can occur.
• It underscores the importance of considering food allergies in adults presenting with relevant symptoms.
• Further research may be needed to understand the mechanisms behind adult-onset food allergies.