Pediatric allergies are very common. The sooner you are able to identify symptoms and confirm your child’s allergies, the sooner you can find the right treatment and help improve the quality of their life.
Common Allergy Symptoms
Allergy symptoms can depend on the type of allergy your child has and may include:
- Upset stomach
- Skin rashes
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy eyes and/or throat
- Breathing issues
Getting an Allergy Test
Many of these symptoms can also be found in other common childhood illnesses like the common cold or another respiratory virus. However, if your child is exhibiting allergy-like symptoms that don’t resolve after a few weeks, discuss the possibility of allergies with their doctor. If they find it necessary, they will refer your child to an allergist who can perform allergy testing to help identify their triggers.
There are several different types of allergy testing, including:
- Skin prick test
- Intradermal test
- Blood test
- Food challenge test
The type of testing will depend on several factors, including suspected allergens and the severity of your child’s symptoms.
The Benefits and Limitations of Allergy Testing
While allergy testing can be an important tool in diagnosing and treating your child’s allergies, it’s important that they don’t act as a standalone diagnosis, as false positives are possible. Top allergists stress that allergy testing should only be used to “confirm suspicion and never to look for allergies in an asymptomatic patient.”
You should only take your child in to get allergy testing if they are exhibiting allergy symptoms and if those symptoms cannot be explained by another cause. Viewing test results as part of a larger picture to confirm allergies can help prevent misdiagnosis and allows your child to receive proper treatment for whatever is causing their symptoms.
How Allergies Can Negatively Affect Your Child
Allergy symptoms that are severe enough can negatively impact their lives in several ways, including:
- Poor quality of sleep
- Trouble attending and performing well in school
- Experiencing frequent dietary issues
- Trouble enjoying activities like playing with friends at Buffomville Lake Park
- Worsening overall health and mood
If you have more questions or wish to schedule an appointment for your child with one of our experts, call ENT Associates of Worcester today.