Allergy testing - What to expect?

muffie1303 · May 2011

We have an appointment set up for DS to have an allergy test on Thursday. What should I expect at the appointment? Are they going to do a blood test, a skin prick test or both? He'll be 1 on Tuesday. We suspect he has a milk protein allergy, or at the very least lactose intolerance. He has also had a reaction to wheat and eggs, and seems to have seasonal allergies.

Miller238 · May 2011

Has he had any antihistimines in the last week or so? If so, they won't be able to get a good reading with skin testing.

I would expect they would do a skin test. You may have to go to the hospital (outpatient lab) for the blood testing. My daughter is dermatographic and reacts to all skin testing regardless if she is allergic or not, so we only get blood testing done.

muffie1303 · May 2011

No, he's never had an antihistamine. Our appointment is at the hospital already, since our doctor's office doesn't do them on site. DS already has very sensitive skin and eczema, so I'm not sure how well they'd be able to read a skin test. He gets huge welts when he gets scratched.

Miller238 · May 2011

If he reacts with huge welts to everything, they may send him for blood testing. Good luck!

muffie1303 · May 2011

Thank you! I'm really not looking forward to this. He's got his allergy test on Thursday, then his 12 month immunizations the following Monday.

blue33 · May 2011

My pediatrician said that it is better to start with a blood test, because some children are so sensitive to certain allergens that exposure to a skin test might send them in to anaphylaxis shock. Also, if your child's skin is already irritated and inflammed with eczema, a skin test may not always be the most accurate. Don't worry. The worst part for us, was the actual blood draw. My little guy is so young, we are just avoiding all known allergens and we will do a follow up allergy test around 1, then 2 and 3. Hopefully, he will outgrow his allergies, but if not, we will be referred to an allergist at 3.

macchiatto · May 2011

Will was 10 months when he first saw the allergist. He had pretty bad eczema at the time (though not on his back at that time) and very sensitive skin, but they did a skin test. So they might do one? We'll see.

Both boys also saw the allergist at 15m and had skin tests done and Will had a blood test done then as well.

Definitely let us know how it goes! And as I mentioned in my intro post, even though Will had multiple food allergies, he has surprised us by outgrowing all but one, so there is hope. Good luck!

muffie1303 · May 2011

Daniel's eczema has been pretty MIA for the last two weeks or so. He does have small dry patches on his feet that seem itchy. I don't know if that's an allergy to our wool carpet, or if the carpet is just aggravating it. I do try to keep lotion and socks on him at all times, but it rarely works.

Thank you. I'm really hoping he grows out of his allergens.

lmdbww · May 2011

Call ahead to see what kind of testing they'll do. I thought they'd do skin prick testing on DD and they ended up doing the skin test where they press the liquid dots on her.

Honestly it was a nightmare and I wish I was better prepared. I had read on here that people were able to hold their LO while they waited the 15 minutes and I couldn't. We were PT'ing at the time and I didn't bring a pull up and couldn't move her while the liquid was on her. She wouldn't stay still (we didn't bring anything to occupy her) and she ended up getting hysterical (from not being able to move and from the reaction of the dots) and peeing all over everything twice. It was a mess.

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