If your child has symptoms of rhinitis (like sneezing or a constant runny nose), asthma symptoms, or possible food allergy symptoms, it’s important to get tested to help determine if he or she is allergic and, if so, which allergic triggers are causing those symptoms. Why? Because symptoms alone don’t identify the triggers. An allergy blood test provides specific information to help your doctor and you map out a plan to help your child feel better.
A simple blood test can tell if your child has
allergic sensitization
Allergy blood testing (such as ImmunoCAP®) can help your doctor know for sure if your child has allergies. The positive and negative test results can help identify your child’s unique allergy profile of specific airborne or foodborne allergic triggers. With this information, you and your doctor can take simple steps to reduce exposure to those triggers, such as:
- Using special bedding to guard against dust mites
- Keeping pets out of the bedroom or house
- Reducing moisture in the basement to control mold
- Reducing pollen exposure indoors and in the car
- Providing diet recommendations based on allergy test results
Reducing exposure to known allergens:
- Decreases symptoms
- Decreases the need for medications
- Helps you feel better
When the allergy blood test results are negative, your doctor can rule out specific allergies as a trigger of your child's symptoms. That means you can avoid taking unnecessary measures to reduce exposure. It also means your child can avoid taking allergy medications (like antihistamines) when they aren't truly needed.
You need to test to really know the triggers
Identification of your child’s specific allergic triggers with an allergy blood test, like ImmunoCAP, is necessary in order to make exposure reduction work.
