Can anyone talk to me about allergy testing small children?

[ShadeofViolet]

DS2 has had ezcema since he was a baby. He also suffers from hayfever.

However in the last few months he has had more 'allergy attacks', where he cant stop rubbing his face and sneezing, he gets very upset and his face swells up. It is getting to the point that he has them up to twice a week. It normally happens at mealtimes (though this could be a coincidence). It has also happened at nursery and preschool, and twice there his eyes swelled up so much he couldnt open them. We treat it with piriton.

This has happened tonight and I am so upset for him. I have been to see our useless GP about it before, and they wont allergy test an under 5 year old. They have basically told me that I have to treat it with piriton everytime it happens and unless I can work out what is causing the allergy myself (which I cant) then there is nothing else that they can do. I worry about the amount of piriton he is having.

Now DH thinks it might be just hayfever, but I am not so sure. DS1 has a peanut and Coconut allergy. I would really like to get him some king of testing but I worry about a)getting a reputable person as there seems to be so many out there and b)whether it would be too invasive, as DS has autism and wouldnt be able to cope with a blood test for example.

I have put a picture in my profile of how the last attack has left him. I would really appreciate any advice.

did your ds1 not get testing then?

ds was tested at 18months
by skin prick tests on his back
I would get referral to allergist from another GP

push your GP for an allergy clinic referral

if no joy then change GP

Ds got skin prick tests and some other test where they had a plaster test thing stuck to his back for 24 hrs (sorry, can't remember name) when he was just over 2 years old, so the 5 year thing sounds nonsense. This was done by a paediatric allergy consultant, so not some wishy-washy nonsense place.

Ds1 was referred to a pediatric allergy clinic at 6mo and diagnosed with dairy and peanut allergies at 10mo. It is RUBBISH to say wait til 5, esp. as you are getting frequent and worsening reactions. Change GP if you need to, but get a referral. Also try keeping a diary highlighting what is eaten at every meal, when you get a reaction and where he is at the time (last will be useful if environmental). It helps to have some ideas as to what the problem may be so you can decide what to test for.

Forgot to say, ds1 had skin prick and RAST blood tests to diagnose his allergies.

My DS"2 was tested at 8m (skin prick and Blood) and I am so glad we did, as it changed his (and our life).
Keeping your son exposed to whatever makes him sick will just worsen his reaction.
I know it is vey difficult to do blood test in babies, but though blood they can test a lot more, especially since you don't know what causes his attacks (food, dust, ....). They can't do 50 pricks.