Allergy Testing... - Uniontown,PA

My daughter is 7 years old and deathly allergic to peanuts and shellfish. She had the scratch tests at 2 yrs old and again just a month ago. It was no big deal either time. Its not fun but I was able to keep her happy by reading to her when she was 2. This last time (7 yrs old) she had to have the scratch tests and then all the scratches raised up and she had hive like welts where all the scratches had been. They called it derma something reaction. So the tests were inconclusive and she had to have the blood tests. The results for the blood tests confirmed the earlier scratch test results.

My son had blood tests at ages 1 and 2 and a scratch test at age 3. The blood tests were much faster - stick in the needle and draw a couple of vials of blood. The needle was pretty painful but the whole thing was over in a minute or two.

The scratch test is not really painful, but it is very uncomfortable. They stick them a bunch of times in the back, but the needles are tiny and not really painful. The bad part is waiting 10-15 minutes while the welts form and create intense itching, which they are not allowed to scratch.

At my son's allergist, they had a tv and dvd player, so we brought his favorite movie to try to distract him. We also brought a few cars (his favorite toy) that he could play with while we waited.

As for the accuracy, I generally hear that the scratch test is more reliable. My son's results were the same with each type of test, so we feel pretty confident that both tests provided us with valid results.

K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao

I asked a similiar question. Thought these responses might help.

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/9963504793727139841

Oh I was going to ask this question!! My son is going in tomorrow and I'm wondering what to expect! I can't wait to hear your responses!
My doctors office said it takes two hours, but other than that I have no idea.

Hi!

I never had to have my son tested for allergies but we came close. I'm not sure what kind of symptoms your son has, but I'll share this in case it is helpful!
My son was having serious respiratory issues when he was 4(mostly at night...every night for months). Asthma was ruled out and the MD thought it must be an allergy of some kind and wanted to put him on steroids. I wasn't comfortable with that(wanted to know the cause before we go down the streroid road), took him to a naturopath who determined he had a sensitivity to chemicals in the house! I was skeptical..but we did a trial run shopping with a manufacturer of ecofriendly products and within 3 days, his symptoms disappeared...sounds crazy I know..but boy, am I glad we never had to get him started down that steroid route. He's 11 now and he's never had another problem. I mention this on the chance that it might be helpful..we surely are grateful we avoided the steroid and med route by simply changing our shopping habits and products....It's incredible to me how simple the answer to my son's potential allergies was and I know of others who have had similar results! I didn't really answer your question because I don't know any names of allergists..but I hope the info is helpful in some way! Good luck!!

My son had allergy testing at 20 m, due to a severe reaction to peanuts.

My understanding is that blood tests are not terribly accurate, and that the 2 that are used and most commonly accepted as accurate are the scratch tests and the skin injections.

My son had both the "scratch" tests and the injections done. For the scratch tests, they pre-load sets of 8 and press it into his back, causing little pricks into the skin. The nurse did 4 or 5 sets (as many as would fit on his little back), one right after the other (yes, he cried, but it was over fast). They marked certain ones on his back by circling the pricks with a marker. We waited 20 minutes to see if a reaction developed and then the allergist (dr) came in to "read" the results from his back. We put cortisone ointment on the 2 really bad ones because they were itchy.

They also did 3 "under the skin" tests, which are actually more accurate. These were for ones that they wanted a more accurate reading on. They did 3 little shots, quickly, one right after the other. (It was over in a matter of seconds.) Then we waited another 20 minutes to have those read.

It wasn't fun, but it was over quickly. In some ways I think it was easier, because my LO didn't really know what was going on, so he didn't know to anticipate the 2nd set of pricks (for the under the skin shots).

They tested him for lots of tree nuts, and peanuts, and some other environmental stuff. We have dogs and did have a cat (who was gone before my son was born) so they tested him for some animal allergies as well.

They also made us watch the EpiPen video (this may have been because they were testing him for peanuts and wanted us to be able to use the pen, which we have, in case he started reacting very badly to the testing).

If you haven't gotten the EpiPen yet, get the 2 pack--it's cheaper and a very good idea to have one at home and one at daycare, for example. Our doc prescribed the EpiPen Jr (for kids). There is also a generic that just came out, too, that is an option.

We go for follow-up with the allergist, with possibly more testing, 6 months after the original appt.

I have had this myself and it is uncomfortable. I don't remember it being painful, but you have to wait will all the tickle on your back while you don't scratch, and I was alone in a room. If you can get something that will really distract him, that would be great. A new, interactive toy? You will want to ask your doctor how long it will take (the application will depend on how many things he is being tested for, and then there is the wait time for the reaction). They do then spray some benedryl or something on the back, but it is like having a bunch of bug bites on your back.

I would explain to him what is going to happen so that he is prepared and knows that he can't scratch. Maybe bring a stuffed animal, and he can scratch the stuffed animal where he wants to scratch himself? Just keep him interacting with you and his mind off of it.