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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Skin prick tests

15 replies

nikkie · 28/06/2006 19:13

I have finally got dd1 an appointment for skin pricks (after going private to save a 8 month wait)
How can I prepare her without scaring her?
She is 6.

OP posts:
Chandra · 28/06/2006 20:53

DS just had them 2 days ago (he is 3). DH decided to tell him what was going to happen a few days beforehand and it only stressed him out. The tests were not that painful, DS kept very still while they applied the droplets, as for the pricks... he only complained after having 8 pricks but didn't show more resistance to the last 2. None of the other children in the clinic seemed tearful afterwards, so I suspect they are not that painful.

I would tell her that she is going to the doctor and they will draw some numbers on her arms, and then would put a little droplet on the side of each number and finally a nurse will pick on the droplets with a little stick.... and very important, that she is getting a little gift afterwards!

Best of luck with the results!

lizziemun · 28/06/2006 21:27

i finally had this done when i was 14 before my allegies were confirmed.

they write on your arms with what they testing for, then give a tiny prick this doesn't hurt but what i found worse was the ones which you are allergic to itch so you might have to hold her arms apart so she mix up the test.

Original poster
nikkie · 30/06/2006 16:52

Thanks

OP posts:
mell2 · 30/06/2006 17:32

I'm sure your dd will be fine. My ds had them done last year when he was 8. He has developed a phobia about needles (not sure if it is because he has to carry epipens everywhere) and i have terrible trouble when he has to have a flu jab or holiday vaccinations. With the skin prick test he was fine

Original poster
nikkie · 05/07/2006 16:50

Chickened out and haven't told her don't think I'd get her there on my own if I did!
Its tomorrow and am starting to worry about what it will be.

OP posts:
Original poster
nikkie · 06/07/2006 21:48

Well........................

Still don't know no reaction to any of the pricks except the 'control' .Advised to keep a diary (again!)and they have given us stronger meds. Her asthma is better though!

OP posts:
Chandra · 07/07/2006 00:10

That's fantastic news Nikkie, probably not the result that you expected but I guess that means that at least she is not that allergic to some main foods.

I strongly support the idea of the diary, as tests result vary quite a lot. I know DS is allergic to dairy because he gets bloated immediatly after eating some, but the prick tests showed he was not allergic while the RAST and ELISA tests showed he was.

On the other hand, the RAST test denied an allergy to wheat while the prick test showed clearly an allergy to it.

Original poster
nikkie · 07/07/2006 20:12

Our problem is that its probably not food it is environmental and including everything she has been near/touched in a diary is virtually impossible.

OP posts:
Chandra · 09/07/2006 01:24

Is not that bad Nikkie, It is not difficult to find a "suspect" and if you keep a diary is not difficult to incriminate it as "culprit" after just a couple of incidences. i.e. DS had a severe asthma attack while in holidays, the suspects where the hotel bedding, some not very well cooked chips which could have been contaminated with peanuts also served in the same restaurant, a short hair dog he stroke and cat dander in a friends's house. Second time in holidays, another asthma attack but that time there were no cats, dogs or chips, we concluded it was the bedding, and since we carry our own when traveling the constant coughing during holidays has been significantly reduced, and no more attacks.

Other attack a few months later and of all things the only suspect present in the scene where cats... an allergy which a skin prick test confirmed a few days later.

tatt · 09/07/2006 07:29

skin pricks aren't infallible and they also don't help if the problem is an intolerance not an allergy. If its asthma you're worried about maybe try goats milk as it could be cows milk protein intolerance. Try it for a minimum of 4 days, preferably 2 weeks and watch out for casein and whey in food.

Original poster
nikkie · 09/07/2006 13:53

She had a phase for waking in the am with very swollen eyes but not everyday and without anything changing in her room, I took all the toys out changed bedding etc and nothing seemed to make a pattern.
the tests showed no reaction to dust mites/cats dogs etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
nikkie · 09/07/2006 13:55

Only thing so far 90% on are fir trees (eyes)
and ivy (swelling)

OP posts:
Chandra · 09/07/2006 19:13

Actually, no method is infalible...

DS showed to be allergic to milk in Elisa and RAST tests but not on the skin prick one (he gets bloated immediatly after contact with dairy so no doubt about allergy)

RAST and ELISA tests showed he was OK with wheat, skin prick one said he was allergic. Not sure about this one, as he only reacts to wheat if he eats it 3 days in a row... so I guess it's only an intolerance.

RAST, ELISA and Skin Prick tests showed DS was very allergic to egg (was even out of range for RAST). We have never been sure of witnessing/recognising a reaction to egg so... even the diary can fail...)

But still believe the diary is more accurate if you record all the food and reactions religiously

Original poster
nikkie · 09/07/2006 19:23

This is all so confusing

OP posts:
Chandra · 09/07/2006 19:30

I know

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