To ask if the NHS does allergy testing for young children?

[Givemethestrength]

My 2 year old over the past few months has been having quite a few allergic reactions where she ends up with large hives, swelling around one eye and general discomfort. The instances seem random and I haven't been able to pinpoint what the trigger is.

If I go to my GP will they actually do anything as it's not a severe reaction like a peanut allergy? I don't know what I'm meant to do to avoid potential reactions if I don't know what's causing it!

They could try referring to the allergy clinic. I am not sure what the exact referral criteria is in your area but this information should be available online.

Yes, they do, but services typically have a long wait time. It’s wildly under-funded in the NHS and there aren’t enough allergists or clinic spots for those that need it. Best to get on the waiting list asap, unless you can afford to go private.

We did but it was 10 years ago and it was only skin testing he was mostly getting stomach reactions they milk laddered him and moved him off the books personally I think he is slightly intolerant but he hates milk etc so it's not an issue that crops up often

Yes. For those reactions they should test.
Allergic resactions can get worse so you need to establish what is going on sooner than later.

In England we had it in Wales we did not.

They do but be prepared for a long wait.
My then 2y old was referred for potential shellfish allergy.

I couldn't find a paediatric allergist who would see an under 5 sadly.

Go private. You will be waiting for years on the NHS

Yes they do. GP referred us to blood test and had results within 2 weeks.

Hives in children is mostly not allergy related and is more likely to be linked to being unwell/having a virus. It's worth speaking to the GP anyway, and keep a good/drink/meds/illness diary, but they won't do random testing without an idea of what to test for (there are so many things that can be allergens!).

Yes, this is what we were told.

My DD kept coming out in hives when she was 2, and even though DH has several anaphylactic allergies so she is at increased risk of an allergy, the allergy clinic our GP referred us to at the hospital rejected the referral.

The allergy clinic passed the referral on to a paediatrician who told us it was probably being caused by viruses. She hasn't had it for about 6 months now.

They're not going to be able to usefully test unless you do some decent diarying to work out likely suspects. You can't test to everything, because there are too many possibilities.

We did get a referral 5 years ago, for my then 1 year old DS. That was following an A&E visit for what it was his first allergic reaction. I don't recall a long wait.
Since then we have been regularly invited to a yearly checkup at the local allergy clinic, for which we get an appointment booked a year in advance.