ALLERGIC SKIN PRICK TEST

The Skin Prick Test is the gold standard test to identify which food/ environmental trigger (allergen) your child may be sensitive to.
An allergen is substance that causes an allergic reaction. It can help us to diagnose and monitor your child’s allergies. 

An allergy is when the immune system responds to an allergen such as food or pollen, as if it is a harmful substance. This can cause the following symptoms: A runny nose  Itchy eyes  Hives (nettle type of rash, called urticaria)  Difficulty in breathing .Skin prick testing is one of the ways to test for specific substances to see if they cause an allergic reaction. 

Your child should not been given any antihistamine, or antiallergic medication or any local steroid ointment at least 3/4 days prior to the scheduled test. If your child is on inhaled steroids, they can be continued.

At our centre the child’s detailed medical and allergic history is noted. You may also be asked questions about your child’s: 

· Current or previous illness 

· Emotional and social well-being 

· Schooling and activities 

· Lifestyle

· Foods 

· Eating habits.

A small amount of allergen is placed on the forearm. The skin under the drop is then pricked with a lancet. The lancet is a small metal stick with a very small, fine, sharp, point at the end that presses the allergen onto the top layer of skin. It does not hurt and the prick does not bleed. This will be repeated for each allergen. After 15 minutes, the forearm will be examined for any allergic reaction. 

 · A positive reaction – the area where the skin has been pricked becomes red and itchy. The raised swelling called a ‘wheal’ may develop if the allergen is sensitive. The size of the wheal gives an indication of the sensitivity pattern. 

Your Allergy specialist doctor will brief you on the possible allergies , give detailed information about prevention and start you on necessary medications ,and you will be monitored on routine follow up basis. 

Your Allergy specialist doctor will brief you on the possible allergies , give detailed information about prevention and started on necessary medications including anti allergies and other supportive therapies. And you will be monitored on routine follow up depending on the relief of your symptoms. 

Sublingual Immunotherapy and Subcutaneous Immunotherapy are the new modalities of treating allergies and presence of newer diagnostic modalities in blood. It can help us diagnose further allergen sensitivity.