Is there any relation in size of weal at skin prick testing to severity of allergy?

[SleepIsForTheWeak]

my DS had a skin prick test and for peanuts the weal was large - about 15mm. He has never eaten peanuts so I have no ides of the severity of reaction to expect

[tatt]

no it doesn't predict severity. What it does tell you is that he is very likely to react if given nuts to eat. I'm afraid there is, as yet, no way to predict severity of the reaction except a food challenge. Even then - nut reactions are known to be unpredictable so the next one could be different. They are likely to be worse if your child is also asthmatic and/or has been exercising.

If he's under 5 he may outgrow it. If he's over 5 make sure you ask about epipens.

[SleepIsForTheWeak]

thanks for the advice. Thy have given us epipens already as we are going travelling.

[slalomsuki]

When I had allergy tests they spent ages measuring and grading the size of the weal on me to see what I reacted to the most and then told me to avoid the relevant stuff

[tatt]

oh - well lots of advice here about places to get insurance and translations and so on. Best of luck - don't run any risks with him, epipens are usually brilliant but don't always reverse reactions.