Does My Child Need Allergy Testing?
Allergies affect roughly 40% of children in the U.S. and can impact their sleep schedule, school attendance, and overall health. It’s important to diagnose your child’s allergies at a young age, so our board-certified allergists can help form a treatment plan and reduce symptoms.
If you’re considering allergy testing for your child, here is some guidance from our team at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia:
How Old Should My Child Be?
If you notice allergy-like symptoms in your little one such as a stuffy nose, sore throat, or watery eyes — especially after playing outside or being exposed to a certain product or food — you should seek a consultation with one of our board-certified specialists. Food allergies can be especially dangerous and should be diagnosed as soon as possible.
While your child can be tested for allergies at any age, most tests are done on children who are six months old or order. Allergy testing has the potential to be wrong for very young patients.
How Does Allergy Testing Work?
At Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia, we offer three types of allergy testing, and our board-certified specialists will help choose which of the following should be used to diagnose your little one’s symptoms so that we can form a treatment plan:
Scratch/Prick Test
A scratch/prick test is the most common form of an allergy test. During a scratch/prick allergy test, a drop of a potential allergen is placed on the surface of the skin. Then, the allergist will use a small device to prick the epidermal layer, allowing the allergen to penetrate the skin.
Patch Test
Patch tests are used to determine whether a particular allergen is causing symptoms of contact dermatitis. In a patch test, the allergy doctor applies the suspected allergen to a patch, which is then placed on the skin of the upper back.
Following your test, we will develop a treatment plan individually tailored to your needs — including medications, allergy drops, and allergy shots.
Intradermal Test
Intradermal tests are used when other testing methods have produced inconclusive results. In this type of allergy test, the allergist will inject a small amount of one or more potential allergens just below the skin of the arm.
Same-Day and Next-Day Appointments at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia
If you’re ready to start taking control of your child’s allergies, contact our team at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia today to schedule your appointment at one of our local offices! We offer same-day and next-day appointments to best fit your schedule and offer the best care for your child possible.
Contact us online or over the phone at (770) 459-0620 to schedule!