Online allergy testing for 20 MO??? Looking for options. Please let me know your experience.

[1organicmomma]

Ok so after battling eczema with my DD, eliminating dairy and gluten, and reintroducing both, it appears we have a gluten issue after having the eczema FLARE within 10 hours of gluten intake but no real reaction to the dairy.  So I have notified her ped who made an allergist appointment for go figure 2 months down the road.  but there is no way I am letting her eat gluten during this time after seeing her reaction.  So I know if we do testing it will likely not show up 2 months from now.  So what are my imediate options.  With ALCAT they dont do pediatric draws so without going through her doctor its a no go.  Are there any finger prick tests that work that I could do at home?  I was persistant with her ped about her getting testing done right away but he is washing his hands of it and wants the allergist to do their thing.  Its silly they dont atleast take blood right when the allergist is recommended verses waiting til the appointment when you know dern well I am not going to let her eat the thing I think causes a reaction in her and allergists have a long waiting list.  GEEZ!  Its frustrating!

Let me know if you have any ideas or recomendations.

TIA

[scsigrl]

If eczema is the only issue your child is having, chances are that the blood work they do won't show anything anyway be it now or in 2 months.  That is a non-IgE reaction and most likely related to an intolerance over an allergy.  They are not the same thing  though treatment would be.  Also, if they are non-IgE, most allergists won't really "do" or suggest anything as they aren't "true" allergies.

If it is an IgE allergy, they will still show up in a blood test BTW.  The only test you wouldn't get an accurate read on would be tests regarding Celiac Disease which it doesn't look like you are considering.

Edited by scsigrl - 7/12/11 at 12:22pm

[1organicmomma]

yeah I figured that the appointment most likely will be no help.  Since it is a delayed reaction its likely IgG reaction which conventional testing does not test for, what is wrong with allergists...why do they not regularly test these.  Its obvious that most intollerances that cause major problems are IgG reactions and not IgE. 

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by scsigrl 

If eczema is the only issue your child is having, chances are that the blood work they do won't show anything anyway be it now or in 2 months.  That is a non-IgE reaction and most likely related to an intolerance over an allergy.

I completely disagree. Eczema can absolutely be an IgE allergy reaction. Eggs are a common (IgE) eczema trigger. IgE reactions can have a huge range of symptoms, from mild (eczema) to severe (anaphylaxsis), and everything in between.

[scsigrl]

Originally Posted by scsigrl 

If eczema is the only issue your child is having, chances are that the blood work they do won't show anything anyway be it now or in 2 months.  

Originally Posted by changingseasons 



I completely disagree. Eczema can absolutely be an IgE allergy reaction. Eggs are a common (IgE) eczema trigger. IgE reactions can have a huge range of symptoms, from mild (eczema) to severe (anaphylaxsis), and everything in between.

Many Dr's don't believe eczema is IgE.  "Typical" IgE allergy skin issue they look for are hives and that kind of stuff.  Can a kid with an IgE allergy have eczema, yes.  Does it mean it IS, no.  Also, many Dr's have issues with testing a kid who's eczema is bad enough because the skin is hyper reactive in many cases (speaking of skin testing).   I said if it was the ONLY sign, it would most likely be non- IgE, not that it couldn't be but if it's the only sign, I would lean that way.

[1organicmomma]

Yeah Eczema is our only real issue here, and the reaction is delayed which I thought all IgE reactions were not delayed and occurred within a few minutes to a couple hours of exposure.  My DDs reaction takes place 8 or more hours later and not immediately after eatting the food.  Its slow to come on and gradually increases.

[1organicmomma]

And as far as eggs, it doesn't seem like the culprit for us since we don't eat eggs all that often and when we do there is no change to her eczema at all.  I would say we have eggs maybe every other week and we don't eat a lot of processed foods that might contain them.