Pediatric Skin Allergy Test Q&A

Several common pediatric allergies can cause allergic flareups come allergy season in children, they include:
 
Pollen Allergy
Pollen allergies will often include grass, tree, and weed pollen. Pollen is the main cause of allergic rhinitis, which is commonly known as hay fever. These symptoms of a pollen allergy will often affect the throat, nose, and airways. The most common symptoms of pollen allergies include coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
 
Mold Allergy
Mold allergies are a common indoor allergy; however, mold can also be found outdoors. This can make it difficult to avoid. The most common symptom that occurs due to a mold allergy is asthma. When children breathe in mold spores, it can cause breathing issues, and wheezing. This allergy is particularly important to control.
 
Food Allergy
Many around the world suffer from food allergies. There are several different food options that can evoke allergic reactions, but there are certain foods that cause almost 90% of food allergies, they include:
 
– Eggs
– Fish
– Shellfish
– Tree nuts
– Peanuts
– Cow’s milk
– Soy
– Wheat
 
These certain foods can cause major allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. These reactions normally occur due to ingesting the food; however, direct contact can also cause these allergies.
 
Dust Mite Allergy
Dust mites are known as tiny organisms which live within mattresses and bedding. They are mostly harmless, with the exception of those that suffer from dust mite allergens. Dust mites will often cause sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, and breathing issues.
 
Pet Allergy
Household animals like cats and dogs cause most of the pet allergies in children. Pet dander and saliva are the main causes of this allergy flare up to begin. Pet dander and saliva will often trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, and breathing issues. Pets will often go outdoors which can also cause more pollen allergies if they bring the pollen indoors.

There are a few different skin allergy tests available to test children for any allergies. Often a small amount of a suspected allergen will be placed on or even below the skin to see if a reaction will develop.
 
There are three different types of skin tests available for children:
 
– Skin prick test
The allergist will lightly scratch or even prick the child’s skin with a drop of liquid that will contain a possible allergen.
 
– Intradermal test
The child will be injected with a small amount of allergen solution.
 
– Skin patch test
A patch with the allergen solution will be secured to the child’s skin for a minimum of 24 to 72 hours.
 
The allergy skin test is often mandatory as a way to help the allergist to find out what the child is allergic to. Before the allergen tests are to be completed, the doctor will need to know all of the medications the child is taking. They may recommend the child stop taking certain medications before getting the allergy skin test.

For children, there is no age requirement for an allergy test. If the child is having a severe allergic reaction, an allergy test can sometimes be falsely negative within 6 weeks after the allergic reaction. This is why severe allergic reactions will delay a skin test for at minimum 6 weeks.

To help treat any skin allergies in toddlers will be to break the itching and scratching cycle that they often do at night which can cause issues. You will need to keep the skin healthy, clean, and moist; you can do this by:

– Drying any drool
– Being gentle
– Clipping their fingernails short
– Bathe daily
– Moisturize the skin after the bath
– Dress them in soft cotton fabrics for bed
– Spot any infections and treat them

Contact us for more information. We serve patients from Lawrenceville GA, Atlanta GA, Conyers GA, Suwanee GA, Duluth GA, Grayson GA, Decatur GA, Brookhaven GA, Lithonia GA and Covington GA.