The Importance of Allergy Testing for Children

The Importance of Allergy Testing for Children

If your child has allergies, they can cause all kinds of problems. Your child’s airways are much smaller than those of an adult. That means your child’s breathing can be affected much more dramatically when your child has allergies. That’s why allergy testing is so important for children. Dr. Michael Taymor and Dr. Lama Rimawi in Palo Alto, CA, provide a wide range of children’s medical services, including allergy testing and treatment.

What You Need To Know About Childhood Allergies

An allergic response happens when your child is exposed to a substance, known as an allergen. Allergies can be seasonal, such as hay fever, plant and flower pollens, grasses, and trees. Allergies can also be environmental, affecting your child all year long. Environmental allergies include pet fur and dander, dust and dust mites, mold, and mildew.

Allergy testing can be done to identify what your child is allergic to. Skin testing is a common way to identify allergies. A small amount of the allergen is placed just under the skin. If the area grows red, swollen, or itchy, your child may be allergic to the allergen.

Your child may also have food allergies. Common food allergens include shellfish, peanuts, and dairy. To test for food allergies, your pediatrician will do a challenge test. Your child ingests or inhales a small amount of allergen, to see if there is a reaction to the substance. If inhaling or ingesting the substance is not recommended, blood tests can be substituted to check for allergies.

Avoiding an allergen is ideal, but it isn’t always possible, so your pediatrician can prescribe a variety of allergy treatments, including:

• Prescription-strength antihistamine medications
• Prescription-strength decongestant medications
• Nasal sprays containing steroids
• Sublingual immunotherapy
• Rescue inhalers and epi-pens
• Allergy shots

Want To Know More?

To learn more about allergy testing and treatment, call your pediatricians, Dr. Michael Taymor and Dr. Lama Rimawi in Palo Alto, CA. You can reach them in the office by calling (650) 321-7722, so call today.