Preparing for your son’s first visit to the Allergist and their first allergy test

Allergy is a problem for most people, and in most cases, it remains undetected and hence untreated. Therefore, it is mandatory to get your child tested for allergies because if an allergen is congested, then it can cause severe reactions depending on the susceptibility of one’s child as well as the severity of the immune response.

Necessity of getting an allergy test for one’s child

Taking one's child for any medical test requires one to prepare the child for the procedure.

Otherwise, the child can become frightened during the proceedings because he will not know what to expect and this can become problematic for the allergist to conduct the test smoothly. Hence when one is taking his/her son for his very first allergy test , then it is necessary to know about the procedure in detail from beforehand. This will not only prepare the parent regarding the process of the allergy test but will also help the child feel relaxed during the proceedings.

Things to be known before opting for an allergy test

It is always better to have an allergy test done for one's child even if he has not suffered from any allergic reactions. Because some allergic reactions occur internally affecting the digestive system and the intestines and might not always be accompanied by skin rashes or itching. Hence it is not always possible to detect allergic reaction in children, so the best option is to get a test done by a professional allergist. The report can then be evaluated, and if potential allergens are detected through the allergy test, then that food stuff should be avoided.

Preparation is the most important part so before making the visit to an allergist for a test a parent should know the following things:

• The type of allergy test that will be conducted, whether it will include both blood and skin allergy test should be known from beforehand.
• If the child is taking any medication, then the parent should let the allergist know about the medicines that the child is taking.
• If medicines are to be discontinued for an allergy test, then the duration of stopping the medications should be asked from beforehand.
• One should also consult with the physician before stopping any medication for an allergy test.
• The parent should ask the allergist about the possible effects of an allergy test.
• If already some food allergies have been identified through observation then the parent should let the allergist know about that and also ask the allergist regarding any potential side effects of the test.
• The procedure for both blood and skin allergy test should be understood in detail.
• The allergist who is going to conduct the test should be authorised to conduct the test. The parent should know about the professional credential of the allergist.
• A parent can ask for a guideline from the allergist regarding the test, and if there are any queries, it should be clarified.

Make sure that you do not delay. If you see that your child is suffering from any allergy, then