Anyone have any experience with allergy testing?

Nurses General Nursing

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Let me preface this by saying that I'm not looking for medical advice, just procedural advice.

My sweet young daughter (16 months) had an anaphylactic reaction to strawberries on her first exposure to them, so we're going to see an allergist in the near future. Having not spoken to the MD yet, or his nurse, but we are seeing an allergist that specializes in peds. Has anyone had this done? If so, would you mind just sharing a bit about the procedure? How it works, how painful it was for you, and how painful you might think it for a little one. Any advice to make the process easier would be welcome as well. Finally, if you did react to a substance, does it produce a dermatitis-type welt?

Thanks in advance,

Amanda

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Sorry to hear about your daughter. I had allergy testing but it was a bit different as mine was an ASA challenge. They made me sit and wait in the waiting room for 8.5 hours while they kept giving me ASA in small doses. (I think you will also experience the waiting part as well). For my challenge they had pretty much convinced themselves that I wasn't allergic to the ASA and sent me home. By the time I got to my car I was in the midst of my eye swelling that looks like I have been beaten up, and by the time I drove another 5 minutes to pick my child up, my eye had swollen shut. They were pretty surprised to see me back in the office 20 minutes after I had left.

Good luck with the testing. Bring lots of stuff to do.

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Specializes in Med-surg.

I don't know much about allergy testing, but I do know at the hospital I work at they can now do the tests via a blood sample instead of having to do the skin testing.

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Specializes in heading for NICU.

I went through allergy testing. I had 45 scratch tests on my back, and then about 20 or so small injections just under the skin on the backs of my arm, and then one blood sample taken. The blood sample can test for several allergens but not for all of them.

I found it to be uncomfortable but not really painful. It's hard to say how a small child would react to it. I'm sure it wont be pleasant.

Good luck!

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my daughter had the shots in her back. it was awful to go through really- for both her, and me.

can your daughter drink fruit juice?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

One of my DD's had a reaction to strawberries also...her tongue swelled up! Talk about scared! I had visions having to trach my kid! They didnt' do any formal testing on her, the allergist told me that it really isn't accurate until they are older (she was about the same age of your daughter), but they just had me avoid small seeded fruit, such as raspberries, kiwi, banana (yes they have small seeds in them), and other such fruits. We never had another problem. When she was 4 she was tested because she has terrible seasonal allergies and the strawberries came up negative! Sometimes they outgrow it. I carried an epi pen for those 3 years too, just in case.

What type of reaction did she have?

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By the time I got to my car I was in the midst of my eye swelling that looks like I have been beaten up, and by the time I drove another 5 minutes to pick my child up, my eye had swollen shut. They were pretty surprised to see me back in the office 20 minutes after I had left.

Good luck with the testing. Bring lots of stuff to do.

Thank you for your reply - that sounds really miserable. Guess you proved them wrong, eh? Thank you for the advice, I do appreciate it and will bring lots to do.

I don't know much about allergy testing, but I do know at the hospital I work at they can now do the tests via a blood sample instead of having to do the skin testing.

That would be nice. For some reason, they want to do the skin tests, I think they want to test for a wide range of things. Apparently, kids that are allergic to strawberries typically react to peanuts as well. I sure hope not - it's fairly wasy to avoid strawberries, not so much with peanuts.

I went through allergy testing. I had 45 scratch tests on my back, and then about 20 or so small injections just under the skin on the backs of my arm, and then one blood sample taken. The blood sample can test for several allergens but not for all of them.

I found it to be uncomfortable but not really painful. It's hard to say how a small child would react to it. I'm sure it wont be pleasant.

Did you react to anything? What did a positive reaction look/feel like if you don't mind my asking? I appreciate your comments.

my daughter had the shots in her back. it was awful to go through really- for both her, and me.

can your daughter drink fruit juice?

I've only ever given her apple juice - I'm avoiding those mixed juices because I just don't really know what's in them for now, and her reaction was so severe, I'm having major trust issues! One of the reasons I want to get this done is so that I can broaden her horizons a little and to allay my own anxiety.

One of my DD's had a reaction to strawberries also...her tongue swelled up! Talk about scared! I had visions having to trach my kid! They didnt' do any formal testing on her, the allergist told me that it really isn't accurate until they are older (she was about the same age of your daughter), but they just had me avoid small seeded fruit, such as raspberries, kiwi, banana (yes they have small seeds in them), and other such fruits. We never had another problem. When she was 4 she was tested because she has terrible seasonal allergies and the strawberries came up negative! Sometimes they outgrow it. I carried an epi pen for those 3 years too, just in case.

What type of reaction did she have?

This sounds very similar! I am so glad I wasn't with her when it happened, although DH really wishes I would have been. He gave her the berries, then put her down for a nap. She fell asleep and 15 minutes later (so 30 minutes after consumption) he heard her moving around a lot and went to check on her. Her whole little body was beet red and swollen and she was struggling to breathe - I don't know if this was bronchospasm or what, but definitely respiratory distress. He called 911, they arrived in 3 minutes and had the trach kit out. Her sats dropped to the mid 80's, they gave epi, she quickly started to recover and within an hour was well recovered. She was admitted for overnight observation with no additional complications.

I was wondering about having her tested this young too, seems like I recall from peds that it's generally not considered accurate until they are a bit older. Interesting you mention the seeds - I never thought about the seeds being causative. I have a mild kiwi reaction, so I never have it around and don't give it to the kids, but she can tolerate bananas just fine. I have an epi pen now just in case, although I am pleased that its just strawberries now. I do hope she outgrows it - and I'm so glad your daughter did!

Thank you so much for your post.

Amanda

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