Since he was born, Lincoln Warburton has never been able to eat an egg without being violently ill.
But after 13 years, the holy grail of egg consumption: an Aussie pavlova, is finally in sight for the Atherton Tablelands teen.
‘I just always wanted to try it. Everyone else eats it, and I couldn’t. I want to taste it,’ he said.
Lincoln was one of 9 per cent of Australians diagnosed with an egg allergy, one of the most common food allergies in the world.
With the support of Cairns Hospital’s allergy clinic, clinicians have been able to safely check whether Lincoln has been able to outgrow his egg allergy via regular medical challenges.
An egg allergy challenge (or oral food challenge) is a supervised medical test where a patient consumes small, gradually increasing amounts of egg to determine if they are allergic or have outgrown an allergy.
‘We discovered Lincoln was allergic to egg when he was a baby, with his first foods,’ Lincoln’s mum Rosemary said.
‘We gave him an egg custard and he had a very violent reaction to it.
‘We were able to avoid eggs for a while, but a couple of years later, he accidentally had mayonnaise on a salad sandwich still had a similar reaction.
‘Now we manage his allergy by asking about everything he eats and always checking labels.
‘We’re very happy with the results from the egg challenge, which will make his diet easier to maintain.
‘He’s very much looking forward to eating all kinds of food now, including bacon and eggs!’
Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergies in the world, with almost 2 million Australians living with a food allergy.
The most common allergies in children include milk, eggs, peanuts, shellfish, fish, soy, and tree nuts.
In adults, hayfever, drug, and insect venom allergies are more common.
Cairns Hospital immunology clinical nurse Naomi Silson said the allergy and immunology team performed regular testing for children to see whether they had outgrown their allergies.
She said adults occasionally developed allergies later in life.
‘We’ve managed patients with unusual allergies such as celery, and banana – which is more common than you think,’ she said.
‘We’ve also seen exercise-induced food allergies, where a reaction only occurs if the person exercises soon after eating a particular food.’
There has been a 51 per cent increase in anaphylaxis cases presenting to Australia’s emergency departments over the past five years, with more than 11,500 cases reported annually.
An anaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis) is a sudden, severe, and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It happens when the immune system overreacts to a usually harmless trigger, such as certain foods, medications, or insect stings. This overreaction causes a flood of chemicals in the body, which can lead to:
- Difficulty breathing
- A dangerous drop in blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness or shock
Naomi stressed that anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires immediate action.
‘If someone is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, call Triple Zero (000) immediately,’ she said.
‘Treatment involves an injection of adrenaline. People with a history of anaphylaxis often carry an adrenaline autoinjector, such as an EpiPen or Anapen. This device can deliver a single dose of adrenaline and should be used while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.’
For milder allergic reactions, symptoms may include:
- Swelling of the lips, face, or eyes
- Hives or welts
- Tingling in the mouth
- Abdominal pain or vomiting
Naomi advised that antihistamines could help manage these symptoms.
‘Antihistamines can be taken as tablets, nasal sprays, or eye drops to relieve mild symptoms,’ she said.
‘However, it’s important to monitor symptoms closely. If they worsen or if there are any signs of anaphylaxis, seek medical help immediately.’
For more information about allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, see Anaphylaxis, or speak to your local GP.