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Pediatric Allergies
Since the late 1990s, food allergy has become more common among children in the U.S.1 Children with a food allergy are also prone to developing other conditions such as asthma, eczema and respiratory allergies.1 That’s why it’s important to diagnosis a food allergy in children.
Through our comprehensive allergy test portfolio, learn how Labcorp can help provide better care for the youngest patients.
Pediatric allergy testing information for providers
Understanding the “allergy march”
Clinical studies have shown that young children who develop atopic dermatitis2,3 or allergic rhinitis2,4,5 have an increased tendency to develop asthma and/or other allergic conditions as they grow older.
The progressive development of increasingly debilitating disease as an atopic child grows into adulthood has been referred to by some researchers as the “allergy march.”
Early intervention may help improve the child’s symptoms and may reduce the chances of developing asthma in the future.3,4,5
The role of blood-based allergy testing
Blood-based allergen-specific IgE testing can be useful in assessing the potential that an atopic disposition might play in fostering chronic sinusitis or dermatitis and potentially asthma, thereby allowing the clinician to develop an optimal therapeutic approach at an early age.
Labcorp can help meet your allergy needs
Contact a Labcorp representative to learn more about how we can help meet your allergy testing needs
Childhood allergies: Information for parents
Any child can develop allergies and the symptoms can include6:
- A skin rash or hives
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing (asthma)
- Sneezing, coughing, a runny nose or itchy eyes
- An upset stomach
It’s difficult to know if an allergen—such as dust, mold, furry animals, or certain foods—is triggering these allergic symptoms in your child.
The first step is to schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician and ask if blood-based allergen-specific IgE testing can help provide answers.
As a safe, fairly quick procedure with minimal risk, a blood test along with a medical exam and history of symptoms can give your child’s pediatrician more information to make a plan that might include:
- Controlling allergy symptoms
- Eliminating or reducing allergy triggers
- Prescribing medication
- Referring to a specialist for additional testing
Get the answers you need for your child’s health.
References
- Branum AM and Lukacs SL. Food Allergy Among US Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations. NCHS Data Brief No. 10. October 2008.
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The Allergy Report. Milwaukee, WI: AAAI; 2000.
- Allergic factors associated with the development of asthma and the influence of cetirizine in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial: First results of ETAC. Early Treatment of the Atopic Child. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 1998 Aug;9(3): 116-124.
- Bousquest J, Van Cauwenberge P, Khaltaev N. World Health Organization. Allergic Rhinitis and its impact on asthma. ARIA Workshop Report. In collaboration with the World Health Organization. 7-10 December 199, Geneva, Switzerland. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001:108(5Suppl):S147-334.
- Zheng T, Yu J, Oh MH, Zhu Z. The Atopic march: Progressions from Atopic Dermatitis to Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2011 April;3(2):67-73.
- American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Allergy Symptoms in Children. https://acaai.org/allergies/allergies-101/who-gets-allergies/children/ Accessed 22 July 2022.