Authors

Short title: Chemosis as Manifestation of Egg Allergy
Ana Isabel Moreira Ribeiro^1*, Rita Lages Pereira², Ivo Miguel Neves³, Fábia Ginja de Carvalho^4
1Pediatric Department, Local Health Unit Braga, Portugal.
²Pediatric Department, Local Health Unit Braga, Portugal.
³Pediatric Department, Local Health Unit Braga, Portugal.
⁴Pediatric Department, Local Health Unit Braga, Portugal.

Article Information

*Corresponding author: Ana Isabel da Silva Moreira Barros Ribeiro, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital de Braga, Sete Fontes — São Victor, 4710-243 Braga, Portugal.

Received: July 14, 2025              |Accepted: July 21, 2025                |Published: July 28, 2025

Citation: Ana Isabel Moreira Ribeiro, Rita Lages Pereira, Ivo Miguel Neves, Fábia Ginja de Carvalho, (2025) “Conjunctival Chemosis as an Initial Manifestation of Egg Allergy in a 4-Year-Old Child” Clinical Case Reports and Clinical Study, 12(3); DOI: 10.61148/2766-8614/JCCRCS/212.

Copyright: © 2025 Ana Isabel da Silva Moreira Barros Ribeiro. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

A four-year-old child presented to the Emergency Department with cutaneous and ocular pruritus and periorbital edema following contact with eggs. The child's medical history included atopic eczema and perennial allergic rhinitis, with sensitization to dust mites and grasses. Examination revealed conjunctival chemosis, but no respiratory, gastrointestinal, or significant skin symptoms were noted. The child was treated with antihistamines and hydrocortisone eye drops and referred to Pediatric Allergology. Laboratory investigations showed elevated total IgE levels (2455 U/L) and positive skin prick tests for ovalbumin, while other allergens tested negative. Further assessment with ImmunoCAP ISAC® confirmed allergies to egg white components. An oral provocation test was positive, resulting in abdominal pain and vomiting. The child was advised to consume small quantities of poorly cooked egg while regularly eating well-cooked egg. Since the intervention, no further allergic reactions have occurred. This case emphasizes the need for thorough clinical assessment in diagnosing food allergies, particularly when presenting symptoms include conjunctival chemosis, and underscores the importance of caregiver vigilance regarding potential allergens in children's diets.