Allergy Panel- Child Panel Test

Allergies in infants and children are common. If your son or daughter has symptoms that may be allergy-related, finding their cause and a doctor to treat them can be a stressful experience for both you and your child. But the sooner you can identify the trigger for an allergy, the sooner you can help your child get back to just enjoying being a kid. Infants and children often experience symptoms that raise suspicions of an allergic condition. Allergy testing can help determine whether the symptom of concern is caused by an allergy and what the specific allergen might be.

For a child with suspected food allergies, the allergist may recommend and supervise a weeklong diet that eliminates or isolates foods suspected to cause a reaction. Common culprits are milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, wheat, tree nuts and shellfish. Allergists can also administer food challenges, giving patients specific doses of foods in a controlled environment to assess reactions.

If an allergy is found, your allergist will choose the most suitable therapeutic interventions, which can include avoidance strategies, medication, diet modification and allergy shots. Conditions where allergy testing can be particularly useful include: Inflamed or irritated nasal passages (rhinitis) Asthma Adverse reactions to food, an insect sting or medication Skin rashes (eczema or contact dermatitis)

Hypersensitivity skin tests, both immediate and delayed, are useful for detecting allergies to airborne particles, foods, insect stings, penicillin and other substances. The diagnostic process usually takes place in the allergist’s office and involves getting a detailed medical history of the child and any family history of allergies or asthma, plus a physical exam and allergy sensitivity testing. Allergists mostly use skin tests, blood tests or elimination tests to detect allergens.