Food and skin allergies are two of the most common allergies in kids. Common triggers include cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, strawberries, and chocolate.
An allergic reaction happens when the body produces antibodies when exposed to harmless triggers. The antibodies are histamines that cause symptoms like a scratchy throat, wheezing, trouble breathing, coughing, or itchy skin. Additionally, food allergies can produce digestive symptoms, such as stomach pain, gas, and diarrhea.
The trouble with allergic reactions is that they are sudden, distressing, panic-inducing, and very uncomfortable for a child. It is heartbreaking having to let a child suffer an allergy attack. As such, parents are very careful to prevent exposure to foods their children are allergic to.
Many times, parents don’t know what their child is allergic to. This is where an allergist can help.
Diagnosing Food Allergies in Kids
A pediatric physician or allergist is able to diagnose food allergies in pediatric patients through allergy testing. In an elimination diet, potential triggers are removed from the diet and reintroduced one by one to check for an allergic response.
In a skin test, a physician pricks your child’s skin and introduces an extract of the potential trigger to see if it triggers an allergic reaction. In a blood test, the allergist takes a sample of your child’s blood and mixes it with food extracts. The sample is sent to a lab to see if antibodies are present.
Very young children are usually not recommended to get skin and blood tests done. Oftentimes, the elimination diet is sufficient enough to diagnose food allergies in kids.
Diagnosing Skin Allergies in Kids
A pediatric physician or allergist usually diagnoses skin allergies in children using the patch test. In a patch test, your child is introduced to potential allergens through a tape attached to the skin, which contains allergen particles. The allergens are inflexible plastic chambers, which will be applied to the skin and left there for a few days.
Patch testing usually occurs over a period of several weeks, with a visit to the allergist every couple of days to check for signs of an allergic reaction. There are skin allergies that take a few days to appear, which is why this diagnostic tool often requires several visits to the allergist before making a diagnosis.
Pediatric Food and Skin Allergies Diagnosis in Irmo, SC
The compassionate health care providers at SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation provide food and skin allergy testing and diagnoses for patients of all ages, including children. Your child deserves a happy and healthy life that is not dictated by allergies. Let us help your child make the most out of life without being held back by allergies. We also offer comprehensive pediatric care from birth through adolescence and into adulthood.
To know more about our pediatric or allergy services or to request an appointment with our board-certified physicians, call SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation at (803) 749-1111 or request an appointment now.
