Date Posted: 8 May 2023
Child's age in this post: 1 year old
The events in this post took place in: mid 2021
Continuing from our previous post, we decided to wait until our child turned one before revisiting the paediatrician for a skin prick test to confirm her allergies.
Skin prick tests are one of the most efficient ways to identify and confirm allergies.
TLDR:
The skin prick test was conducted on my little one's arm. I've heard that other clinics or hospitals might perform it on the back to prevent young children from scratching. The nurse was gentle and reassuring as she pricked the skin and introduced small samples of the allergens, along with histamine and antihistamine controls.
We then had to wait for about 15 – 20 minutes before the nurse checked for hive reactions. The test, while relatively quick, was not the most pleasant experience for my child – there were plenty of tears. However, it was over fairly quickly, and we got the answers we needed. The appearance of hives confirmed our suspicions about the dairy allergy, and to our surprise, revealed that she was also allergic to prawns! The "dairy" hive was about the size of three giant mosquito bites combined!
A consultation with the doctor followed, where we discussed the results.
Important note: Antihistamines should be avoided for 1 – 2 weeks before the test to ensure accurate results. Please do check with your doctor to confirm the do's and don'ts before the test.
The paediatrician explained that the size of the hive does not always indicate the severity of the allergy, but rather provides confirmation of its presence.
Given her previous reaction to yoghurt and the results from the skin prick test, I was provided with an EpiPen to have on standby. For children with severe allergies and a risk of anaphylaxis, it's essential to keep an EpiPen with the child at all times!
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