Expert: David Richardson - 10/31/2009

Question
Hi Dr. Richardson,
I hope you can help me out with this question.
I was diagnosed with SVT six years ago. Am now 29 years old, weigh 115 pounds. When i was five years old i developed an egg allergy. I would break out in a rash. My parents stopped giving me the eggs for a while, and then started giving me them again, so i could gain immunity to it, and i never developed a rash again. I eat them now here and there, not often since i don't like eating eggs a whole lot.
but, i have heard h1n1 shot is egg based and if you have an egg allegy, you can not get the shot and the flu is pretty serious. do you think i can get the shot? if you can not give me any info abou this, who do i ask so i can get some accurate info..i obviously don't want to have a severe reaction to it and die, also would the shot interfere with the svt that i have?

Lets say i get the shot and i develop the allergy, do people die if they get the flu shot and they are allergic to eggs?
am i still allergic even though i eat eggs now without a problem?

thank you

Answer
Dear Julie,

I think you can get the H1N1 shot, tho I wish you would ask the health department in your city or state.  They have experts on vaccines and allergy.  You won't die if you're allergic to the eggs in the shot.  Antihistamines and cortisone will prevent serious consequences.  You're not likely to be allergic to eggs now since you can eat them.

Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.

David Richardson