skin prick testing can anyone help

[collieluver]

has any one had skin prick testing my boy has ezcema and i want to find out whats causing it trying to find out what hospitals do this, how much it costs and what actually happens and how long before results come back any information any mn has will be great thankyou for taking the time to read my post.

[mummybroccoli]

You know I have never heard of anyone having skin prick testing done for eczema and I have it!! I can possibly see why you may want it done, but to be honest eczema is just unfortunately one of those things that are best to try and prevent by keeping the skin nice and supple with emollient cream, being careful what soap powder/ shower gel you use and also watching what he eats by using a food diary to see if there is any link with certain tyoes of food????

My friend is a derm nurse, I will ask her and see if she knows.

[LilRedWG]

DH recently had this done for excema. He was referred by his dermatologist and had to visit the hospital three times in the same week.

Monday: they dry-shaved his back (ouch) and stuck small metal discs (about the size of a five pence coin) all over his back, each one impregnated with a different possible allergen, with tape.

Wednesday: they removed all discs and examined for any reactions.

Friday: re-examined for delayed reactions and diagnosed one allergen.

He was not allowed to shower for the five days and if any came lose he immeditely had to restick them. It was itchy and uncomfortable but not painful.

He's seeing his dermatologist again next week and I think they will start looking at food allergies as there was no real response to the contact allergies.

Your first port of call should be your GP. good luck.

[wolfear]

My DS had skin prick tests for allergies last week. He also has eczema. Drops of fluid conttaining 10 different allergens ranging from foods, animals, grass etc, were dropped on the inners of his forearms in a grid with the name written next to them. His skin was then pricked with a tiny needle where the droplet was and we had to wait 15 minutes for any reaction. If the areas swelled up, he was allergic and the area was measured and a grade allocated to the allergy depending on how large the swollen area was - if the waas no reaction, he obviously wasn't allergic.

DS's eczema was quite bad when he was a baby and the dermatologist recommended a gluten free diet. He was GF until about 2 months ago (he's 22 months) when we gradually reintroduced it. His eczema is pretty much completely gone now. Whether the GF diet had an effect, I'm not sure, but gluten doesn't cause any reaction in him now at all.

By the way, I struggled to get him allergy tested. The doctors were very reluctant to do it and I really had to push for it to the point where I refused to leave my GP's office until he referred us after we called an ambulance one night after DS had a severe reaction to nuts.

It's nice to finally have some piece of mind though.

Good Luck.

[iris66]

mummybroccolli - eczema is an hereditary condition that is caused by an allergic reaction. It can also be suffered alongside to asthma/hay fever and arthritis to which it is connected. It can be physically and emotionally very distressing and can be very difficult to manage if you don't know what triggers it. It's most definately not just "unfortunately one of those things that are best to try and prevent"

collieluver DS (3) has chronic eczema and had skin prick tests at St Thomas' hospital in London to test for allergies (we got referred, to Dr DuToit, there by our GP as they have a specialist paediatric allergy unit - it's free by the way). They struggled to find any clear skin on his body but eventually managed 10 up his inner arm. The test was very quick and the results were clear within minutes. He goes back annually for retesting as he is very sensitive to virtually all the common emoillents and creams, in addition to foodstuffs.Hope that helps and good luck

[iris66]

collieluver this thread may help toohere

[mummybroccoli]

iris66 appologies , maybe I should have made myself a bit clearer, I have suffered (quite badly- although nowhere near as badly as your DS by the sounds of it the poor little fella) since I was a toddler on and off.
Mine flared up when I had the implant put in almost immediately so I know mine (during adulthood anyway) is linked to hormone changes as it really really flares up once a month but is always present. I know that it is linked to allergies which is why I suggested the diary etc, however I was merely stating that, in my opinion, prevention is one of the most important things that sadly a lot of parents forget about when there isn't a visible flare up (and collieluver I didn't mean you personally!! lol).

Again appologies if I came across all dismissive of the horrid eczema, was not intended that way

[collieluver]

have looked into getting it done privatly and it is a bit pricy but i would pay if it helped him ut i have been told i can have it done on the nhs going to speak to my son dermatoligist on friday. MB i dont forget about it at all i do everything in the same way as when he has a flare up cream him every 2-3 hours steriod cream when really red bath him wake up to cream him change his bandages stay awake with him constantly through the night medicine and go to school to give medicine and cream him i understand what you are saying but i cant speak for any other mother but personally i dont forget thankyou for all your help

[collieluver]

dont really get on with my doctor so hopefully might be able to get referal from dermotolgist

[iris66]

mummybroccoli apology accepted and thankyou for your amplification. (I just wish I could find a cream that doesn't contain anything DS is allergic to )

collieluver good luck for friday. I'm sure your dermatologist would be aware of the unit at St Thomas' so hope you can get a referral

[collieluver]

thankyou very much all