Frustrated w/DS's allergy testing today. Need advice.

[lilmom]

Ok wonderful allergy mamas. I have a question.

Today I took DS (2.5) for allergy testing because he has very obviously been sneezing/wheezing at night (just light wheezing) and because he recently developed eczema on his arms, for no apparent reason, about 3-4 wks ago.

Since he was about 8 months old he has had a very obvious egg allergy. He breaks out in hives on his face and gets eczema on his back, almost immediately after eating eggs, specifically the yolks. Whites seem to be ok. If he doesn't have eggs, he doesn't have eczema on his back. Ever.

Since I also have some food allergies, I thought we better get him checked out for other food allergies too.

Fast forward to today's testing. The allergist said he is only slightly allergic to mountain pine and juniper, and nothing else. No foods, including eggs.

I am sorry but I know this is wrong! I asked her what would make him break out in hives and eczema after eating them if he's not allergic to them. She said maybe I don't give them to him very often so that's what happens. Oh yeah, she also said people can't be allergic to only egg yolks.

WHAT?!?!? Can anyone please explain this to me? That sounds crazy to me.

I am wondering if I need to get him a blood test or something else, because I am just not sure I trust these results. Please point me in the right direction!!

[balancedmama]

THe thing about scratch tests is that some people do not have a positive result even though they have an allergy. I can't call the percentage - it's around 15% IIRC. My son is the same way. He is 21 months and he has NOTHING show up on scratch tests. But there is no doubt in anyone's mind that he is allergic to soy and eggs. I know how you are feeling...there is something in being able to see the visual manifestation of the scratch test. I think what was more frustrating for me is that we suspect there might be some other mild allergies for my DS, but he just doesn't seem to demonstrate much on a scratch test so we couldn't use that as a tool to help identify anything else either.

[cowKIDmom]

What about doing a blood test? We did IgG and IgE blood testing on two of our boys when they were 1 and 4 and found it very acurate. most drs. only test for IgE. If you haven't already I would sure look into IgG --delayed reactions -- if you are concerned about other foods

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by lilmom

I asked her what would make him break out in hives and eczema after eating them if he's not allergic to them. She said maybe I don't give them to him very often so that's what happens. Oh yeah, she also said people can't be allergic to only egg yolks.

Ugh. The ignorance of doctors is appalling. If people can be only allergic to egg whites (pretty common), then people can definitely be allergic to only yolks. My DD is allergic to the whole thing, but much more so to the yolks. And no- eating something just once in a while would NOT cause hives.

I would ask for a blood test (RAST). And a new allergist.

But keep in mind that the test results aren't 100% accurate, so there's always a possibility that you got a false negative. Reactions ALWAYS trump test results- any allergist with half a brain should tell you that. If the test is negative, but you get hives every time you eat a certain food, you ARE allergic.

[dollyanna]

I always thought the skin tests were supposed to be more accurate than the blood tests

In any case, my allergist says that you can only prove a positive reaction with an allergy test -- that you can't prove a negative. For example, I tested negative for tree pollen, but since my allergies flare up in the spring he thinks I must be allergic.

Also, your child is pretty young. I have heard that before a certain age/weight allergy tests are pretty unreliable.

Sorry, that sounds really frustrating

[californiajenn]

The IgE skin test and IgG blood test are two different things. The first tests for allergies and the second tests for sensitivities that present as allergies. Different immune responses.

[34me]

One of my boys didn't show a positive to any scratch test untill he was 7 and the other it was 5. Now at 13 and 11 they show up positive to EVERYTHING they are tested for on a scratch test except guinea pig

[lilmom]

Originally Posted by balancedmama

THe thing about scratch tests is that some people do not have a positive result even though they have an allergy. I can't call the percentage - it's around 15% IIRC. My son is the same way. He is 21 months and he has NOTHING show up on scratch tests. But there is no doubt in anyone's mind that he is allergic to soy and eggs. I know how you are feeling...there is something in being able to see the visual manifestation of the scratch test. I think what was more frustrating for me is that we suspect there might be some other mild allergies for my DS, but he just doesn't seem to demonstrate much on a scratch test so we couldn't use that as a tool to help identify anything else either.

I'm sorry you are going through this too! it is definitely frustrating.

Sorry everyone, I don't know how to quote multiple msgs..so here goes..

[lilmom]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

Ugh. The ignorance of doctors is appalling. If people can be only allergic to egg whites (pretty common), then people can definitely be allergic to only yolks. My DD is allergic to the whole thing, but much more so to the yolks. And no- eating something just once in a while would NOT cause hives.

I would ask for a blood test (RAST). And a new allergist.

It IS appalling isn't it?! It never fails to amaze me how truly ignorant some doctors can be. My mom is highly allergic to egg yolks, but has no problem with whites, so it is not surprising to me at all that my DS is too. I am still pretty shocked that the doctor said that. And the comment about eating something once in a while would cause it...good grief..this woman has been practicing her specialty for 30 yrs..you would think that she honestly would know that doesn't even make sense!

Unfortunately she is the only allergist in our town who is on our insurance. There is one other allergist here though. We haven't lived here very long so I had no recommendations either way..just going off the insurance. Sigh.

For all those who suggested we get blood tests, should i still wait until he is older? Or would that be a better way to go right now?

[lilmom]

Originally Posted by 34me

One of my boys didn't show a positive to any scratch test untill he was 7 and the other it was 5. Now at 13 and 11 they show up positive to EVERYTHING they are tested for on a scratch test except guinea pig

Yikes!! Did you have them blood tested too? Or just wait until they got older, and continue with the scratch tests?

[changingseasons]

I totally forgot to tell you about our egg story.

DD has always reacted to eggs- it was one of the first things I eliminated from my diet when she was an infant. So I was pretty positive it was one of her top allergies. We had a blood test (RAST) done when she was about 5mo old, and it was negative. Then a skin test with a new allergist at 18mo, also negative. Then another blood test at 2yo, negative. The allergist even made some smartass comment like, "see? no egg allergy." Like "haha, I told you it was all in your head" kind of attitude (we don't see that allergist anymore.)

OH- we also had 2 ELISAs done, one at 7mo, one at 2yo- both also were negative for egg.

So, if you're keeping track- that's FIVE negative allergy tests (3 IgE, 2 IgG.) After all these people convincing me that she was not in fact allergic to eggs, we added them back into our diet (on occasion.) She ate hardboiled eggs straight, with no major symptoms (some minor ones, but they were always hard to pinpoint to the eggs.) If we ate them more than a few days in a row, the symptoms would start to get worse.

In January, we got a new allergist. He agreed to skin test for a bunch of stuff. We got a positive for egg white, and a HUGE positive for egg yolk. A week later, DD got into the groceries on the way home from the store and cracked a egg in her lap. Within minutes, her legs (where the egg had touched) were covered in hives. Within 1/2 an hour, they were from her neck to her toes.

Moral of the story- DD is allergic to eggs, and it took 5 tests before it showed up. AND, apparently, she is ok with eating very well cooked eggs (but we've taken them back out of our diet to be safe), but not raw or under cooked eggs. So listen to your gut, and remember that reactions trump test results!!!

[Koalamom]

If you are seeing issues with eggs, then that is your answer. My dd has issues with eggs (skin rashes) and I knew how good they are supposed to be and they are local expansive ones. Silly me, it took me a while to see the connection.