Most people have heard of hay fever and hives. And who doesn’t cough? So let’s start with the medical names for some common symptoms of allergies. It’ll help you decode the information that comes with any allergy medication.

• Allergic rhinitis: A blocked or runny nose, plus sneezing. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is linked to outdoor allergens such as pollen. Perennial allergic rhinitis means symptoms can be year-round. They happen indoors from allergens such as dust mites.

That’s what this article is for. Read on to find out why your healthcare provider might suggest allergy testing for kids. Also why they might suggest a particular test for your child. If you haven’t had that conversation yet, maybe we can help you figure out what to ask when you do

Read on to find out what could be influencing your personal allergy calendar. And what you can do about the triggers and symptoms of seasonal allergies. We’ll look at treatment options and medications too.

The best first question. Allergy symptoms can be bothersome and worrisome in varying degrees. They may affect your child’s eyes, nose, throat, chest, skin and digestion. Or their whole body if it’s a severe allergic reaction. That’s a good enough reason to tackle symptoms right now. But allergies can also influence long-term health if left untreated.

Allergy testing for kids is a first step. It can help your child get a diagnosis (of course, it may not be allergy). Then you and your regular healthcare provider or allergy specialist will make a plan, starting with what to avoid and how to avoid it. Hopefully that means your child has fewer symptoms. If not, they'll be able to get the antihistamine, corticosteroid or other relief they need. Immunotherapy may be an option too. This is a long-term treatment for certain allergies.

Allergy testing for kids is a first step. It can help your child get a diagnosis (of course, it may not be allergy). Then you and your regular healthcare provider or allergy specialist will make a plan, starting with what to avoid and how to avoid it. Hopefully that means your child has fewer symptoms. If not, they'll be able to get the antihistamine, corticosteroid or other relief they need. Immunotherapy may be an option too. This is a long-term treatment for certain allergies.

How your child reacts in an allergy test can sometimes be a helpful clue to how their condition might develop. For instance, a strongly positive result tends to suggest kids are less likely to grow out of a food allergy.

Testing can also lead to a full diagnosis for young children who are allergic to one food and may later react to others. Meanwhile early sensitization to cow’s milk, hen’s eggs and allergens you breathe in can develop into lower respiratory symptoms. But treating allergies early may help lower the risk.

• Blood tests – useful for children with a skin condition that may interfere with a skin test
• Challenge tests – may be done when blood and skin test results are inconclusive, can be the only appropriate test for food allergy

These tests look for Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in your child’s blood or evidence of their presence. The immune system makes the antibodies as protection against substances it thinks are a threat. Sometimes it gets it wrong. Pollen, animal dander, dust mites, peanuts, latex, even insect stings are generally harmless. But if you have an allergy to one of them, the antibodies set off a reaction to expel it from your body as fast as possible.

Not exactly. And here’s why. IgE antibodies are specific to a substance or allergen. But a positive test result only shows sensitization. It doesn’t necessarily mean your child is allergic to that trigger.

The first encounter with an allergen programs your child’s immune system. They have IgE antibodies and their body is ready to react if they meet it again. But not everyone will develop allergy symptoms even though they carry the antibodies and test positive. This is known as being sensitized but not allergic.

Test results can help diagnose allergies by narrowing down the list of possible culprits for your child’s symptoms. Your healthcare provider or specialist will interpret them for you.

It’s why your body has inbuilt protection. Your immune system is always on guard. It makes specific immunoglobulin (IgE) antibodies each time you meet a threat. These antibodies send histamine and white blood cells to flush out any intruder. Your immune system reacts the same way when you come into contact with an allergen. That’s an allergic reaction.

Children can get tested at any age but the number of things a tiny baby can be allergic to may be limited. After all, you usually need to encounter a substance twice to develop an allergy.

Children can get tested at any age but IgE levels may be very low in newborns making diagnosis tricky. Also, the number of things a tiny baby can be allergic to may be limited. After all, you usually need to encounter a substance twice to develop an allergy.

Children can get tested at any age but IgE levels may be very low in newborns making diagnosis tricky. Also, the number of things a tiny baby can be allergic to may be limited. After all, you usually need to encounter a substance twice to develop an allergy.

Sensitization tends to start with eggs, cow’s milk and peanuts. Reactions may show first on your child’s skin, followed by other food allergy symptoms with weaning. Symptoms from indoor environmental allergies to dust mites, cockroaches and pets may appear when they’re toddlers. 

What kids actually feel during an allergy test and how they feel about it will vary. Talk to them beforehand so they know what to expect.

Sensitization tends to start with eggs, cow’s milk and peanuts. Reactions may show first on your child’s skin, followed by other food allergy symptoms with weaning. Symptoms from indoor environmental allergies to dust mites, cockroaches and pets may appear when they’re toddlers. 

What kids actually feel during an allergy test and how they feel about it will vary. Talk to them beforehand so they know what to expect.

Skin prick test: Tends to be the first choice of test, also called a prick test, scratch test or percutaneous test. Skin prick tests can help identify allergies to for example pollen, dust mites, animal dander, mold or latex. Food allergies are complex and may need other tests too.  Skin prick testing is used for penicillin allergy.  It’s less reliable for other drug allergies where a negative result may not be conclusive. 

Skin prick tests are usually not painful.  A drop of liquid containing an allergen is placed on your child’s arm. Little children often can’t resist itching so may have the test on their back. The skin is then gently pricked and checked for a response in 15-20 minutes. A small red swelling (wheal) like a mosquito bite shows your child is sensitized.

The next step after a negative or inconclusive result may be an intradermal test.

Skin prick test: Tends to be the first choice of test, also called a prick test, scratch test or percutaneous test. Skin prick tests can help identify allergies to for example pollen, dust mites, animal dander, mold or latex. Food allergies are complex and may need other tests too.  Skin prick testing is used for penicillin allergy.  It’s less reliable for other drug allergies where a negative result may not be conclusive. 

Skin prick tests are usually not painful.  A drop of liquid containing an allergen is placed on your child’s arm. Little children often can’t resist itching so may have the test on their back. The skin is then gently pricked and checked for a response in 15-20 minutes. A small red swelling (wheal) like a mosquito bite shows your child is sensitized.

The next step after a negative or inconclusive result may be an intradermal test.

Intradermal test: Sometimes called a skin injection test.  Intradermal testing is often done to identify insect venom or drug allergies. It involves injecting a small amount of allergen just under the skin on your child’s arm, which may be uncomfortable. Your child’s healthcare provider will check for wheals after 15 minutes.

Patch test: Normally done to identify non-IgE allergies causing skin inflammation (contact dermatitis). Patch tests can be for latex, a chemical, metal, resin and or drug. It involves taping small patches carrying the allergens to your child’s back. The reaction can take 48 hours or more after patch testing to show. 

Your healthcare provider or specialist may suggest a blood test if your child needs to keep taking medications that could interfere with a skin test. Also if they have particular skin conditions. Or have ever had a severe allergic reaction. The sample goes off to the lab so you won’t get the allergy test results that day.

Allergy blood test: This involves taking a small sample from your child’s arm or with a finger prick. The lab looks for specific IgE antibodies in the blood indicating sensitization. Finger pricks and needles are no one’s favorite thing. Children may be able to have numbing cream before allergy blood tests taken from their arm. That’s as long as they’re not allergic to lidocaine.

Component test: It's a variation of the allergy blood test taking a more detailed look at the triggers. There may be several proteins in a substance that can cause allergy symptoms. A component test can tell you which one your child is sensitized to. That’s helpful if they react to peanuts, tree nuts or insect venom because some proteins in these allergens are more likely to set off a severe reaction.

Your child will need to stop taking antihistamine before the challenge as it can mask symptoms. Of course, always follow your healthcare provider's instructions

Oral food challenge (OFC): May be the next step when other tests are inconclusive or to see if a child has outgrown a food allergy. The food challenge starts with a tiny amount of the potential trigger and increases gradually. If your child reacts, you know they must avoid certain foods.

The clinic may ask you to bring food with you for the test, particularly for little kids and fussy eaters. It can be calming to have a favorite plate and utensils. And toys as you’ll have to wait for a few hours after testing in case of a delayed reaction.

Oral food challenge (OFC): May be the next step when other tests are inconclusive or to see if a child has outgrown a food allergy. The food challenge starts with a tiny amount of the potential trigger and increases gradually. If your child reacts, you know they must avoid certain foods.

The clinic may ask you to bring food with you for the test, particularly for little kids and fussy eaters. It can be calming to have a favorite plate and utensils. And toys as you’ll have to wait for a few hours after testing in case of a delayed reaction.

Oral drug challenge: Can help to confirm your child is not allergic to a medication before it’s prescribed. The challenge starts with a small dose and builds up step by step as long as there’s no sign of a reaction. Kids who can’t take the oral medication may have injections instead.

Oral drug challenge: Can help to confirm your child is not allergic to a medication before it’s prescribed. The challenge starts with a small dose and builds up step by step as long as there’s no sign of a reaction. Kids who can’t take the oral medication may have injections instead.

Your healthcare provider or specialist will look at the results alongside your child’s detailed clinical history and symptoms. It’s not unusual for skin prick tests and allergy blood tests to be inconclusive. You may get false positives or negatives. In which case your child may need a different test to help make the diagnosis.

One we haven’t mentioned yet is a breath test or lung function test (spirometry). Your child may have done one already as part of a physical exam if they get lower respiratory symptoms. It means blowing into a tube connected to a computer. Your healthcare provider will explain what’s going to happen but children may find the process a little scary. Tell them astronauts do the very same test.