Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2013 Dec;1(4):333-338. 10.4168/aard.2013.1.4.333.

The safety of influenza vaccination in children with egg allergy

• Chang SJ
• Sol IS
• Kim YH
• Lee HS
• Han YK
• Park HB
• Kim MJ
• Kim KW
• Sohn MH
• Kim KE

• KMID: 2262590
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2013.1.4.333

Abstract

PURPOSE
Although influenza vaccine contains some residual egg protein (ovalbumin), recent studies have been reported that the influenza vaccine is even safe for patients with egg allergy. The object of this study was to assess the safety of influenza vaccination and estimate the risk factors of allergic reactions to influenza vaccination in children with egg allergy.
METHODS
The medical records of 108 children were reviewed retrospectively, those were diagnosed as egg allergy at Department of Pediatrics in Severance Children's Hospital between January 2006 and December 2011. All of them were vaccinated with very low ovalbumin concentration (< or =0.12 microg/mL). Patients were vaccinated in graded doses by the international guideline. Subjects without allergic reactions to influenza vaccine among egg allergy patients were recruited as control subjects.
RESULTS
Only 12 subjects of patients had adverse reactions to influenza vaccination. There were no significant relationships between adverse reactions to influenza vaccine and their own history of other allergy, history of breast feeding or graded vaccination. The egg allergy symptoms or egg-specific IgE levels were not associated with adverse reactions to influenza vaccination.
CONCLUSION
These results show that patients with egg allergy may have adverse reactions with influenza vaccine, but severe adverse reactions are rare as general population. Therefore, the patients with egg allergy can be safe vaccinated with influenza vaccine, regardless of severity of allergic reaction after egg ingestion or methods of vaccination.

Keyword

Egg hypersensitivity; Influenza; Vaccination; Ovalbumin

MeSH Terms

Breast Feeding
Child*
Eating
Egg Hypersensitivity*
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Influenza Vaccines
Influenza, Human*
Medical Records
Methods
Ovalbumin
Ovum*
Pediatrics
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Vaccination*
Immunoglobulin E
Influenza Vaccines
Ovalbumin

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