Baby allergy testing

[mumsiemoo2]

Hi ,

Hoping someone may be able to advise me on baby allergy testing and what this entails?

Baby now 8 months old had a severe reaction swelling of the face when we first started weaning at 6 months.

So is due to have allergy testing at the end of the week in hospital. The letter says they will first run some tests on her and then we have to bring along a load of different foods, where one will be given to her in a controlled environment.

Has anyone else's baby had these tests, is it a blood test or pin prick of some sort?

Anxiety is starting to get the better of me!

Mine had both blood tests and skin prick tests, not sure whether it’ll be the same where you are.
Then later on (a couple of years) they had a peanut challenge, ie they were offered increasing amounts of peanut as a hospital day patient.

Thank you for replying!

This is all totally new to me! DD had a bad swelling reaction after trying toast with butter. I'm breastfeeding and eat these things (literally over her) so thought this would be fine.

Our letter just says tests and then we have a list of food items to bring along where one will be given afterwards.

Will the testing be distressing for her? I'm worried tests may mean lots of pin pricks or needles.

Feeling super anxious about it.

So milk allergy or wheat allergy maybe?

They took blood for the blood tests but I used emla cream first to numb the area, I got it on prescription from my gp before going. Or they might use a cooling spray first. If you want you could ring them in the hospital and ask maybe, but they will be experienced in any case.

The skin prick was okay, DC didn’t seem too bothered by the test, some of the spots were a bit itchy afterwards - unfortunately as this indicated a positive test.

Does your baby have eczema? They’re more prone to allergies then and can be sensitised through the skin maybe. The good news is that some children outgrow their allergies, so you may be put on a protocol to help this process.

Best of luck with it all. I know it can feel really overwhelming when you first learn they may have allergies. You do learn how to deal with them with time.