When our daughter was diagnosed with an egg allergy as a baby, we were hopeful that it would be one of the food allergies she would eventually outgrow.
At the time, we were told that many children outgrow an egg allergy when they are young. As she got older and her egg allergy remained, we learned that there really isn’t one age by which a child should outgrow it.
For our daughter, it happened at 14.
After years of blood tests, skin testing, a failed baked egg challenge, a later successful baked egg challenge, slowly progressing through different forms of egg, and more than one attempt at getting mentally ready for a full egg food challenge, she finally passed.
If your child is getting older and still has an egg allergy, don’t give up hope. Children don’t all follow the same timeline.
Here’s what our experience looked like, what allergists may consider when deciding whether a child is ready for an oral food challenge, and what parents can expect if that day comes.
Can Children Outgrow an Egg Allergy?
Yes. Many children do outgrow an egg allergy.
Egg allergy often begins in infancy or early childhood, and research shows that many children eventually develop tolerance. However, exactly when that happens varies considerably.
In one large observational study, approximately half of the children had outgrown their egg allergy by around age six. Other research following children who still had egg allergy at age six found that children continued developing tolerance throughout later childhood.
Our daughter didn’t pass her full egg food challenge until she was 14.
So if your child is getting older and hasn’t outgrown their egg allergy yet, that does not necessarily mean they never will.
At What Age Do Children Outgrow an Egg Allergy?
There isn’t one specific age at which a child should outgrow an egg allergy.
This was one of the harder things for me to understand as a parent because the information we received changed as our daughter got older.
Early on, we were focused on certain ages and milestones. Eventually, I realized that her individual history mattered much more than reaching a particular birthday.
Research reflects this variability. Some children develop tolerance relatively early, while others continue to outgrow egg allergy later in childhood and adolescence.
Rather than focusing on one particular age, our allergist followed our daughter’s individual history and test results over time.
And the word, trend, became incredibly important.
How Do Allergists Know an Egg Allergy May Be Resolving?
There wasn’t one test result that suddenly told us our daughter had outgrown her egg allergy.
Instead, her allergist looked at the bigger picture, including:
- Changes in her blood work over time
- Changes in her skin prick testing
- Her history of reactions
- Her ability to tolerate different forms of egg
- Her previous food challenge results
Her blood work continued to trend downward over the years. By the time we were discussing her final egg challenge, her egg-specific IgE was around 1. It wasn’t zero.
Her skin test was also still positive.
That concerned me.
I specifically asked our allergist about it because I couldn’t understand how we could be considering feeding her egg when her skin was still reacting during testing.
Our allergist explained our daughter’s particular test results in the context of her history, including the fact that she was already tolerating cooked forms of egg.
Ultimately, despite still having a positive skin test, she passed her supervised oral food challenge.
Her experience was a great reminder that one test result doesn’t tell the entire story.
Do Lower Egg Allergy Blood Test Numbers Mean the Allergy Is Going Away?
A downward trend in egg-specific IgE can be encouraging, but there isn’t one blood test number that proves an egg allergy has resolved.
Research has found that egg-specific IgE levels, skin prick test results, reaction history and other clinical factors can help predict whether an egg allergy is more likely to persist or resolve.
But these tests aren’t perfect.
Your child’s allergist will interpret blood testing along with skin testing, reaction history, previous food challenges and the child’s overall clinical picture when deciding whether it may be appropriate to consider an oral food challenge.
Can a Child Have a Positive Skin Test and Still Pass an Egg Challenge?
Yes. Our daughter did.
This was actually one of my biggest concerns before her challenge.
Her skin test was still positive and I wanted to understand why we would proceed with an egg food challenge when she was technically still testing positive.
One important thing for parents to understand is that a positive skin or blood test can indicate sensitization, but it does not always mean that a person will have an allergic reaction when the food is eaten. This is one reason allergists interpret testing alongside a patient’s clinical history.
After discussing our daughter’s results with her allergist and considering the rest of her history, we decided to proceed.
She passed.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), false-positive results can occur with both skin and blood testing, and an oral food challenge may be used to determine whether someone actually reacts to a food.
Our Experience with a Baked Egg Challenge
Our daughter’s path to outgrowing egg wasn’t one giant leap from complete avoidance to scrambled eggs.
It happened gradually.
When she was younger, she attempted a baked egg food challenge and failed.
We waited and continued following her with our allergist. Eventually, she tried another baked egg challenge and passed.
That opened the door to the next stage.
Research has shown that some children with egg allergy can tolerate extensively heated or baked egg even though they still react to less-cooked forms of egg. Baked egg tolerance can also be an encouraging sign in the natural history of egg allergy.
Moving Through Different Forms of Egg
After passing baked egg, our daughter gradually progressed through increasingly less-cooked forms of egg under the guidance of her allergist.
For us, that progression included foods such as:
- Baked egg
- Egg-containing pasta
- Chicken cutlets
- Meatballs
- Pancakes
- Waffles
We didn’t rush through it.
At one point, waffles made her throat feel funny. Instead of pushing forward, we stayed at that stage for quite a while.
Egg introduction plans and egg ladders can vary, and they aren’t appropriate for every child. Families should follow the specific plan provided by their child’s allergy team rather than trying to progress through different forms of egg on their own.
Eventually, our daughter was tolerating pancakes and waffles without a problem, and the conversation turned toward a full egg challenge.
Being Medically Ready Isn’t Always the Same as Being Emotionally Ready
This part doesn’t get discussed enough.
Our daughter may have been medically ready to attempt her full egg challenge before she was emotionally ready.
At 13, we actually scheduled the challenge.
The day before, she couldn’t do it.
After living with an egg allergy her entire life, suddenly being told to intentionally eat the food she had spent years avoiding was scary.
So we didn’t force it.
I’ve written more about the emotional toll food allergies can have on children and our daughter’s decision to back out of her first egg challenge here.
We continued following her blood work, kept the forms of egg she already tolerated in her diet, and waited.
Eventually, at 14, she told us she was ready.
What Is an Oral Food Challenge for Egg?
An oral food challenge is a medically supervised procedure in which a patient eats gradually increasing amounts of a food while being monitored for an allergic reaction.
For our daughter’s egg challenge, we were instructed to bring scrambled eggs and French toast.
French toast worked particularly well for her. She genuinely liked it, which made the challenge much easier.
That last part matters more than you might think.
When children are younger, getting them to eat enough of the challenge food can sometimes be difficult. Our daughter was 14 and actually enjoyed the French toast, so eating each dose wasn’t an issue.
Oral food challenges should be performed under medical supervision rather than attempted at home unless your allergist has specifically instructed otherwise.
What Happens During an Egg Food Challenge?
Our entire appointment lasted approximately four hours.
When we arrived, our daughter was first evaluated by the medical team.
Then the challenge began.
At our allergist’s office, she ate a small first dose of the food. After she finished it, we waited approximately 15 minutes while the medical team monitored her.
When she had no reaction, she received a larger second dose.
We waited again.
The portions continued to increase until she had completed four doses.
Once she finished the final dose, the eating portion of the challenge was over, but we weren’t free to leave yet.
We remained at the office for approximately two hours after the final dose so she could continue to be observed.
Altogether, our challenge took roughly three and a half to four hours.
What Happens If Your Child Passes an Egg Challenge?
Passing the challenge was incredibly exciting, but we didn’t simply walk out of the office and consider egg a thing of the past.
Our allergist gave us specific instructions about continuing to include egg in our daughter’s diet.
For approximately the first month, we were instructed to continue giving her cooked forms of egg, including foods such as scrambled eggs and French toast. After that, our allergist told us we could introduce mayonnaise as the next step.
Your child’s instructions may be different, so always follow the recommendations you receive after the challenge.
As a dietitian and a parent, I think this is where families sometimes need practical help.
After spending years avoiding egg, you suddenly have to figure out how to make it a normal part of your child’s diet.
Some possibilities include:
- Scrambled eggs
- French toast
- Omelets
- Egg muffins
- Frittatas
- Pancakes and waffles
For older children especially, involving them in choosing and preparing egg-containing foods can help make this transition feel more normal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outgrowing an Egg Allergy
At what age do most children outgrow an egg allergy?
There isn’t one age that applies to every child. Many children outgrow egg allergy during childhood, but the timing varies considerably. Research has also documented children continuing to acquire tolerance later in childhood.
Can a child outgrow an egg allergy after age 12?
Yes. Egg allergy can resolve later in childhood and adolescence. Our daughter passed her full egg food challenge at age 14.
Does a lower egg IgE blood test mean my child has outgrown the allergy?
Not necessarily. A downward trend may be encouraging, but blood testing alone cannot determine whether your child can safely eat egg. An allergist needs to interpret testing alongside your child’s clinical history and other information.
Can my child pass an egg challenge with a positive skin test?
It is possible. A positive skin test indicates sensitization but does not necessarily prove that eating the food will cause a reaction. Our daughter’s skin test was still positive when she passed her challenge. Whether an oral food challenge is appropriate is a decision for your child’s allergist.
What is the difference between a baked egg challenge and a regular egg challenge?
A baked egg challenge evaluates whether a child can tolerate egg that has been extensively heated as part of a baked food. Some children tolerate baked egg while still reacting to less-cooked forms of egg.
How long does an egg food challenge take?
Plan on spending several hours at the allergist’s office. Our daughter’s challenge took approximately three and a half to four hours, including the observation period after her final dose. Your allergist’s protocol may differ.
Is an oral food challenge safe?
Oral food challenges carry the risk of an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, which is why they are performed in an appropriate medically supervised setting. The food is generally given in gradually increasing amounts while the patient is monitored, and the medical team is prepared to stop the challenge and treat a reaction if necessary.
What happens if my child doesn’t pass the food challenge?
A failed challenge does not necessarily mean the allergy will always persist. Some children may become tolerant later and can be reevaluated by their allergist. Our daughter failed an earlier baked egg challenge and later passed one.
What should my child eat after passing an egg challenge?
Follow your allergist’s specific instructions. Our daughter was instructed to continue eating cooked egg regularly after passing. Once families have spent years avoiding egg, simple foods such as scrambled eggs, French toast, omelets, egg muffins and frittatas can help make egg a normal part of the diet again.
The Bottom Line
Yes, children can outgrow an egg allergy, and it doesn’t always happen when they’re little.
Our daughter’s journey took 14 years.
There were changing blood test results, positive skin tests, a failed baked egg challenge, a successful baked egg challenge, years of slowly progressing through different forms of egg, and an egg challenge she wasn’t emotionally ready to attempt the first time.
Then, at 14, she was ready.
As both a registered dietitian and a food allergy parent, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is not to reduce food allergies to a single test result or timeline. Every child’s history is different.
If your child has an egg allergy, continue working with their allergist and ask about changes you’re seeing over time. A medically supervised oral food challenge is an important tool for determining whether a child can tolerate a food, and your allergist can determine if and when one is appropriate.
For our family, hearing that she had passed after nearly her entire childhood avoiding egg was a milestone we’ll never forget.