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Timely testing recommended
The challenge of identifying
and managing allergy affects not only a child’s acute
symptoms but also his or her long-term health. Early recognition
of underlying atopic inflammation can help the clinician guide management
in order to alter the course of disease progression. Research indicates
that early intervention (through such measures as avoidance,
antihistamine treatment, and immunotherapy)
can help to reduce acute allergy symptoms and may interrupt the development
of asthma.1-3 That’s
why experts in pediatric allergy and diagnostic testing recommend
timely allergy testing to confirm or rule out atopy and to identify
specific allergens in order to help guide effective management.4-7 The
European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)
Section on Pediatrics recommends testing:
- for all children with allergy-like symptoms deemed to be severe,
persistent, recurrent, or for those in need of continuous treatment
for a particular illness, regardless of age4
Specific IgE assays make testing easy
ImmunoCAP
Specific IgE blood testing makes it easy for primary
care clinicians to perform an allergy evaluation.8 By
utilizing pre-selected pediatric profiles of both food and airborne
allergens, ImmunoCAP test results provide the pediatric clinician
with clear evidence to rule in or rule out the presence of atopy,
identify and quantify any specific allergic sensitivities, and guide
effective management (including avoidance counseling, medication
selection, and timely referral).
When used with the patient history and physical exam, ImmunoCAP
provides objective quantifiable evidence of IgE-mediated allergen
sensitivity to help the physician diagnose and manage these common
childhood illnesses:
-
atopic dermatitis—the
low-level allergic food sensitivities that cause dermatologic
symptoms are often reflective of an ongoing disease process.9 When
low-level sensitization is detected, the clinician may wish to reassess
at a later time to see if the sensitization is changing or becoming
more significant.10 Identification
of offending allergens can aid in guiding targeted avoidance
(including elimination diets),11,12 which
should be re-evaluated every 4-6 months.11 Due
to a significant risk of malnourishment, great care should be
taken when eliminating foods from a child's diet. Specialist
consultation or referral is recommended.11
-
gastrointestinal distress—identification
of food allergens can aid in guiding simple avoidance, more
targeted elimination diets, or food challenges (specialist referral
recommended)11,13,14
-
recurrent otitis media—when
allergic rhinitis may be involved, experts recommend allergy
testing to confirm atopy and treatment of this comorbid illness
in order to aid control of otitis media11,15
-
allergic
rhinitis—confirmation of atopy and identification
of specific triggers will aid avoidance (to bring allergic
load below the symptom threshold),10,16
and help guide treatment selection.8 Allergic
rhinitis often accompanies recurrent otitis media and asthma,
and experts recommend treatment of this disorder to aid the
treatment11,15,17,18
-
asthma—management
guidelines from both the NIH17 and
the AAFP18 urge
identification of allergens and other irritants to reduce
exposure to these triggers
ImmunoCAP blood testing can be conducted on patients of any age,
as young as 3
months, regardless of the medications they are already taking, and
only a single blood draw is required. Many laboratories and reference
laboratories offer ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood testing.
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