In general, because of the lack of the maturity of the immune system, we do not carry out allergy testing to children under 7 / 8 years old.

Skin prick tests are unsuitable:
If you are pregnant
if you have a history of anaphylaxis.

Allergy testing is also unsuitable for those with no symptoms and no history of suspected allergy.

Dr McAlister will first take the full details of your symptoms and how they have affected you. Other background medical questions will help us to understand other factors that might be involved. From your description of your symptoms, and the answers to other questions, we will begin to understand what the causes might be.

We can provide all available allergy tests. These can be done on the day of your first appointment where they are indicated. However, not all patients who come to see us actually need an allergy test. Even if your symptoms are typical of allergy, tests are not always needed to make the diagnosis. In other cases no allergy testing is required as it is clear from the history that the symptoms are not allergy related. Guidance will be given. Sometimes tests other than allergy tests are performed, being based on the clinical history.

Please stop anti-histamines at least 3 days prior to your appointment, as they interfere with skin testing. If anti-histamines cannot be stopped, we will still be able to do IgE (blood) testing.

Please take time to think carefully about events surrounding your reaction / symptoms.

Bring along:
• Photos and digital images
• Referral letters
• List of foods / allergens that may have caused a reaction
• A list of your medication (or ideally the medication itself).

Allergies are usually a life long condition. They change with age and this is called the “Allergic March”. Children tend to get cows milk protein allergy, asthma and other food allergies. Milk and egg allergies tend to be outgrown, while shellfish and nut allergies tend to persist. Teenagers get hay fever and generally the older you get, the less problematic your allergies become. Or so it used to be. However the pattern has changed over the past few years with more adults developing allergies, and children tending to take longer to out grow the milk and egg allergies of the early years. .

Peanuts are legumes (bean family) and unlike the nuts grow on trees. They are different food families, but co-incidentally 50% of peanut allergic children also react to tree nuts and sesame seed. As peanuts are from the legume family, it would be important to ask/test for any reactions to other foods in this group such as peas, beans and lentils.

Skin Prick Testing results would be available by the end of the consultation.

We would have the allergy blood results from the lab within 2-3 days.

Allergy is an acute reaction with reddening, itching and swelling that involves the immune system and which can occasionally be life threatening (anaphylaxis).

Intolerance is a non life-threatening reaction. The presentation might be abdominal pain or a feeling of malaise. There are no specific tests that can be done to test for intolerance. The best advice is elimination of a suspected food/agent for a period of time, then re-intoducing it to see if the symptoms reappear. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the cows milk sugar lactose.

Skin prick testing
Advantages:
• Lower cost, high sensitivity and rapid results

Limitations:
• May be affected by medication and skin condition.
• Potential to cause adverse reaction.
• Responsiveness depends on age.
• Inconvenient for patient.

Blood testing
Advantages:
• Not interfered with by skin condition or medication such as antihistamines
• Returns quantitative result for future monitoring
• No reaction triggered in patient.
• Reliable testing method.
• Minimal blood sample.

Limitations:
• Higher cost
• Results take a few days. 

No.
Ezcema is not an allergic condition. However, a consultation with our doctor would help in the management of the condition.