Methods Of Food Allergy Testing For Children

The Importance Of Food Allergy Testing For Children

While allergy testing is not always deemed necessary for all types of child allergies, food allergy testing for children with food sensitivities takes on more importance.

Food allergies can cause a range of child allergy symptoms. Symptoms may be the same or similar to nasal allergy symptoms with congestion, breathing difficulty, and lung discomfort, or they may be more related to skin allergy symptoms and cause rash, hives, and swelling. Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is one of the most common symptoms of child food allergies, but since eczema is a condition on its own, not necessarily allergy-related, and since a number of triggers can cause an eczema flare-up, it can be difficult to diagnose an eczema-related food allergy. In truth, it can be difficult to diagnose food allergies relative to any symptoms because there is such a range and the cause could be a number of allergens.

Food allergies or intolerances can also cause more elusive symptoms, such as delayed stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and intestinal/digestive problems. It may take some time and frequency of occurrence before it becomes apparent that these types of symptoms (cyclic food allergies), which may not present for a number of days following intake of the allergenic food, are recognized as possible food allergies or intolerances.

Some food allergy symptoms can be very severe in nature as well. Severe food allergies can cause facial, mouth, and throat swelling and possibly anaphylaxis. Severe food allergies require a fast medical response to maintain airways and restore breathing to normal.

Food allergy testing for children is needed to avoid any of these symptoms in children; it is especially important to identify food allergens in children with more severe symptoms. The purpose of identifying food allergy triggers is to find out what foods a child is sensitive to so that a plan for avoidance and alternative nutrition sources can be devised, as well as a plan for emergency treatment if necessary. It is imperative that children and parents with severe food allergies become educated in avoidance to prevent a life-threatening food allergy attack.

How Food Allergy Testing For Children Is Done

Food allergy testing for children is done in one of three ways, depending on the severity of the allergy and whether the allergy is considered a true allergy or intolerance.

All food allergy testing for children starts with avoidance or elimination of suspect foods; severely allergic children should take no chances and should eliminate anything which has caused serious symptoms. Children with more moderate symptoms can eliminate a food for a period of a week or two, and then try to return it and mark the difference.

When a child has what a doctor or allergist believes is a true allergy to a food, food testing for the child may include blood testing for the immune antibody IgE and/or scratch skin testing. These tests are not accurate for children who have 'cyclic' or delayed food intolerances, as these sensitivities do not produce the IgE antibody. Instead, this type of food allergy relies on the food "Elimination and Challenge Diet". The Elimination and Challenge Diet may also be used in the diagnosis of children with food allergies.

The basic process for the Elimination and Challenge Diet is as follows:

1. The parent and child are asked to keep a food diary including foods eaten, times, medications, and symptoms noted
2. The child's doctor or allergist will evaluate the diary and suggest foods which should be eliminated for testing purposes
3. The parent is asked to create a blind elimination of foods one at a time (so the child does not know what foods are suspected) and track reactions
4. On day five the parent is to feed the child an average serving of the suspected food allergen and have the child finish the portion within five minutes; a second, half-size portion should be given in an hour. Symptoms are again recorded, including when each symptom occurred.

The elimination portion of the Elimination and Challenge Diet is often used to diagnose "fixed" food allergies (i.e., those that are IgE related and present more readily), but the challenge portion is only advised under the strict supervision of a doctor (for the safety of the child). Elimination diets are preferable for children who may be at risk if allergens are introduced via skin allergy testing during food allergy testing for children.

In any type of food allergy testing for children, it is important that parents are cooperative, open, and honest with supervising doctors, and that test protocols are followed as prescribed. Often parents are tempted to make a food diary appear healthier than it is, or to temporarily improve the normal diet in fear of physician criticism, however, changes to the normal diet and omissions can cause an elimination/challenge to be inaccurate. It is also important that allergy medications be restricted (as per doctor's orders) so that symptoms have the opportunity to present.