Testing can give you certainty over the allergies that affect your child – and certainty as to the ones they grow out of.
Overview
What is an allergy?
Your body overreacts to the ‘threat’ of certain foods, pollen or dust, and releases antibodies that cause the reaction.
How do I know if my child is allergic?
A simple blood test is all you need. Book yours now.
What are the symptoms?
Range from sneezing, watery eyes and itchy throat (hay fever and inhalant allergies) to nausea, abdominal cramps and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis (food allergies).
Can the test tell me if my child has grown out of an allergy?
Yes. Many allergies subside as children grow older. Testing can help you track your child’s ongoing susceptibility to allergens.
Did You Know?
5%-8% of UK children have a food allergy. Around 1 in 5 people have hay fever.
Your children and allergies
Allergies can be horrible, disruptive and occasionally extremely dangerous things for children. Frustratingly, however, childhood is when most allergies begin. Hay fever will most typically have appeared in early teenage years (if not sooner) and food allergies are most prevalent in children, with the level of food allergies dropping by as much as 75% by adulthood.
Unlike many other allergy tests, the potential for children to grow out of certain allergies gives allergy testing in children a dual role:
- If you suspect your child has an allergy, testing can reassure you as to which substances to avoid
- If you already know your child has an allergy to, for example, egg or milk, allergy testing can tell you if that allergy subsides
What are the symptoms of childhood allergies?
Childhood allergies range widely in terms of symptoms and severity.
Hay fever symptoms, for example, can include:
- A runny or blocked nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy throat, nose and ears
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Coughing
- Less commonly, your child may also experience tiredness, facial pain caused by blocked sinuses, and a loss of smell
Dust mite and pet dander allergies may result in symptoms similar to hay fever.
A food allergy may result in symptoms including:
- General itching
- Flushed skin
- A raised, red, itchy rash anywhere on the body (hives)
- Increased heart rate
- Swollen tongue or throat
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea
Anaphylaxis: In the most severe cases, a food allergy can trigger anaphylaxis. This combination of breathing difficulties and feeling faint is commonly called anaphylactic shock. It can lead to collapse, and it can be fatal if left untreated. If you suspect anaphylaxis, dial 999.
How do I get tested?
Better2Know tests for a broad panel of childhood allergies including:
- Cat dander (skin flakes)
- Cows’ milk
- Egg white
- Egg yolk
- Mite, pteronyssinus
- Peanut
- Soya Bean
- Timothy Grass
- Wheat Flour
The simple blood test results in a positive or negative result for each of the above elements, so you can feel reassured about the substances that may pose a threat - or which no longer pose a threat – to your child.
To book your test, contact Better2Know now on the number above.