How Are Children Tested for Allergies?

From seasonal sneezing and unending nasal drainage to itchy hives or tummy pain, allergy symptoms can significantly impair a child's quality of life.

Our allergy specialists at Allergy A.R.T.S. in Amarillo, Texas, can help your child overcome the challenges of allergies. We develop personalized treatment plans that may include avoiding allergens (triggers), seasonal medications, or immunotherapy for a long-term solution.

Here's a look at the various methods we use to diagnose allergies in children:

1. Symptom review and physical exam

The first step in diagnosing allergies often involves a thorough medical history review, a detailed discussion of your child’s symptoms, and a physical examination.

Your Allergy A.R.T.S. specialist will ask when symptoms occur, how long they last, and what seems to trigger them.

You can prepare for this by keeping a symptom diary during an allergy attack, noting any behaviors that might have contributed to the symptoms.

We generally look for patterns, such as sneezing, itching, and a runny nose after play dates at a pet-friendly neighbor’s house.

Allergy symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure but can develop several hours later. For instance, food allergy symptoms may develop two hours after ingesting the substance.

2. Skin prick test

The skin prick test is one of the most common methods for diagnosing allergies. During this testing method, your provider places a small drop of the suspected allergen on the child's skin, usually on the forearm or back.

We then lightly scratch (prick) the skin through the drop. If a small, raised bump (like a mosquito bite) appears at the test site, we’ll tag that substance as an allergy. Reactions typically appear quickly, no longer than 15-20 minutes.

This highly accurate test offers quick results, allowing us to test for multiple allergens simultaneously. Most children tolerate the skin prick test very well, reporting little to no discomfort.

Severe allergic reactions are quite rare, but your provider is on hand to monitor your child’s reaction and treat, if necessary, during the skin prick test.

3. Intradermal test

If the skin prick test is inconclusive, your Allergy A.R.T.S. provider might recommend an intradermal allergy test.

During this test, we inject a small amount of the suspected allergen just under the skin and monitor the site carefully for a reaction.

This method is more sensitive than the skin prick test and is often helpful in diagnosing allergies to insect stings or specific medications. Since we use such a small amount of the allergen, the reaction usually remains local. However, medical personnel are available to counter any unexpected results.   

4. Blood tests

During allergic reactions, your body produces specific proteins called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. Allergy blood tests measure the level of specific IgE antibodies to particular allergens in the blood.

Because there’s no risk of an allergic reaction during the test, we may recommend this type when skin tests are not advisable. For instance, if your child has had a severe reaction to a bee sting, we may recommend a blood test.  

Unfortunately, blood tests are not as accurate as other testing methods, and results take longer.

5. Patch tests

Patch tests are used to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. First, small amounts of potential allergens are applied to sterilized patches.

We then place the patch on the child’s back and watch for a reaction. Patches are typically left in place for 48 hours. We’ll check the area at 48 hours and again in 72-96 if necessary.

For allergy relief you can count on, schedule an evaluation at Allergy A.R.T.S. today by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.