Bezzy communities provide meaningful connections with others living with chronic conditions. Join Bezzy on the web or mobile app.

Can't get enough? Connect with us for all things health.

Do You Have a Chicken Allergy?

Overview

Low-fat, high-protein chicken is a healthy addition to your diet. Unless you’re allergic to it.

Chicken allergies aren’t common, but they can cause uncomfortable or even dangerous symptoms in some people.

When you have an allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies the allergen as a dangerous substance. Your immune system then creates antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IeG) to attack the substance. This response can lead to a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe.

A chicken allergy can occur in people of any age. You might be allergic to chicken as a child and outgrow it. You might also become allergic to live chickens or to chicken meat after many years of having no allergic reactions. Some people with chicken allergy are allergic to raw but not cooked chicken.

If you suspect you have chicken allergy, a doctor, such as an allergist, can help you find out for sure. You can get a skin prick or blood test to see if you test positive for this or other allergens. Once you know what your specific allergies are, you’ll be in a strong position to protect your health without hurting your nutritional intake.

What are the symptoms of a chicken allergy?

If you’re allergic to chicken, you may experience immediate symptoms upon exposure, or symptoms may occur up to several hours later. Symptoms of a chicken allergy include:

Your symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe. They may worsen or lessen with exposure. Your symptoms should clear up once you’re no longer in contact with chicken.

What are the risk factors of a chicken allergy?

If you have asthma or eczema, you may be more likely to have food allergies, including an allergy to chicken. You may also be at risk for chicken allergy if you’re allergic to:

Some people who are allergic to chicken are also allergic to eggs. This is known as bird-egg syndrome. People who have bird-egg syndrome are allergic to a substance found in the yolk of eggs and to chicken serum albumin. If you have bird-egg syndrome, you may also have an increased risk of an allergy to parakeets.

If you’re allergic to chicken, you may also be allergic to live chicken droppings, chicken feathers, and chicken feather dust. This sensitivity can extend to the feathers and droppings of other types of poultry too, such as turkey.

What are the complications of a chicken allergy?

You may mistake a chicken allergy for a cold. This is because some of the symptoms, such as runny nose and sore throat, are the same. You may also experience stomach distress as your body tries to eliminate the allergen from your system.

The most severe complication is anaphylaxis. This is a serious, whole-body reaction that requires immediate medical attention. The symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

If you’ve ever had an anaphylactic reaction, your doctor will prescribe an EpiPen for you to carry at all times.

The EpiPen is a self-injectable form of epinephrine (adrenaline). It can save your life in the event of an allergic emergency. It doesn’t eliminate the need for follow-up medical support, though. Call your doctor if you’ve needed to use an EpiPen for anaphylaxis.

What to avoid

If you have an allergy to chicken, you’ll want to avoid it in everything you eat.

Watch out for dishes that contain chicken broth, a common ingredient in soups. Chicken has also become popular as a substitute for red meat, so you may find it ground like hamburger meat. Make sure the meatballs, chili, and meatloaf you eat are chicken-free before digging in.

If you have an allergy to chicken feathers, comforters or pillows containing goose down may trigger an allergic reaction both at home and during travel. Hypoallergenic pillows don’t contain down.

Before taking any vaccines, discuss your allergy with your doctor. Certain vaccines might trigger an allergic reaction, such as the yellow fever vaccine, which contains chicken protein. If you have bird-egg syndrome, you may not be able to take the live influenza vaccine. It contains egg protein.

You may also want to take extra precautions if you visit a petting zoo or farm, especially if you’re allergic to live chickens or waterfowl.

When should you see your doctor?

If you suspect you have a chicken allergy, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. They may recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine to treat your symptoms or an elimination diet to determine if chicken is causing your symptoms.

If your allergic reactions are severe, your doctor can work with you on safely managing your allergy.

If you experience anaphylaxis, seek medical help immediately, even if you use an EpiPen. This is because of the risk of a second phase of symptoms that don’t respond to epinephrine.

What’s the outlook?

Life with a chicken allergy can be manageable.  The superior rectus is an eye muscle, controlling the eye as it moves up. This muscle is among four muscles — including the medial rectus, lateral… Always be aware of what you’re eating and what other allergic triggers, such as chicken feathers, might be lurking in your environment. If you avoid chicken, you’ll remain symptom-free.

A medical professional, such as an allergist, can help you manage your symptoms and prescribe medications that can help if you accidentally trigger your allergy.

Food substitutes

Avoiding chicken is possible. Try these simple substitutes:

Share this article

You like your beef rare. So you might be wondering what happens if you eat raw chicken. Here's what you should know.

Some foods, such as some fruits, vegetables, and nuts, can cause mouth sores. It can be due to oral allergy syndrome or allergic contact stomatitis…

Watch this video to learn about the differences between food allergies and food intolerance.

Medication can help prevent your food allergy symptoms and may stop a serious reaction from happening. Learn what options you have to manage your food…

It's possible to develop a peanut allergy as an adult. Risk factors include having other allergies, a family history of peanut allergies, and immune…

Learn about what can happen if you keep eating food you're allergic to, including symptoms that can develop and when to seek medical help.

You can generally consume spices if you have a nut allergy. You can typically consume anything that doesn't contain nuts, but always read the label…

Here's all about how long symptoms of shellfish allergy last and when to act with urgency.

OUR BRANDS