Understanding Allergy Testing for Children

Many children suffer from severe allergies. While some children will outgrow their allergies, many will experience reactions throughout life. Fortunately, with modern allergy testing, it’s often possible to pin down what’s causing a reaction. This way, parents and children can work to avoid exposure, and will also know to take emergency actions if they should be exposed. If you're in need of allergy testing and live around Smyrna, Clarkston, and Lithonia, GA, contact the Decatur Pediatric Group.

If your child is suffering from allergic reactions, it’s important to undergo allergy testing. Each year, hundreds of people in the United States succumb to allergic reactions. Proper and prompt allergy testing can mitigate risks and help families prepare.

Why Allergy Testing is Crucial

Something that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Essentially, the body will identify allergens as foreign invaders and a serious threat. As a result, the immune system will react. With severe allergies, the body overreacts, leading to symptoms and biological developments that can endanger lives.

For example, if a child is allergic to pet dander, they may experience severe swelling. If the throat should become inflamed, there’s a risk that the allergic reaction will make it difficult if not impossible to breathe. The end result? A child or adult could be suffocated.

By identifying allergens, parents and children can learn to avoid exposure to substances that could cause a reaction. If someone has already been exposed to an allergen, they’ll know that they may need to seek medical care right away. Prompt and proper use of an EpiPen, for example, can help individuals bring allergic reactions under control until further medical care can be provided. If a loved one is in need of allergy testing and lives around Smyrna, Clarkston, Lithonia, GA, contact the Decatur Pediatric Group.

How Allergy Testing Works

There are several different types of allergy tests. Perhaps the most common allergy test is a skin test. With this test, minute amounts of potential allergens are placed on the skin. If the substance causes a reaction, it’ll likely produce a red bump and inflammation on the skin within half an hour or so.

It's also possible to use patches. An allergen can be placed on a patch, and the patch is then placed on the skin. After that, medical professionals can watch for a reaction. In some cases, intradermal testing is used. With this method, the potential allergens are injected into the skin, which may solicit a more obvious reaction.

It's also possible to use allergy blood tests. With these tests, blood samples are sent to laboratories where medical professionals can look for Allergen-specific Antibodies (IgE). If these antibodies are found, the data can be used to pin down potential allergens.

If you need allergy testing and live around Smyrna, Clarkston, and Lithonia, GA, contact the Decatur Pediatric Group by dialing (404) 296-7133.