For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Not sure if you have read my past posts but basically Ds who is just about 14 months old... has been on and off sick with horrible cold and this eye thing (very red and bloodshot) for about 2 months...

We've done everything for him- antibiotics, cold meds, elevation of the mattress, humidifier, aspirator etc...

Finally on Friday the ped. and I discussed the possibility of this all being allergy related..we then saw a ped. Optomitrist re: Ryans eye- who then diagnosed Ryan with Vernal Conjunctivitis- which means he is basically allergic to something in the air- which is making his eye this way...

Since the eye and illness thing have been going on together, hand in hand- my ped. believes even more so now, that his "colds" are related to allergies as well...

He asked me if I would like to see an allergist...
He said that at this age, they will not treat it, and will not do skin testing (whatever that is) but they might do a blood test...


SO basically my question is:
What did the allergist do for your child- and how old were they when they did it?

I dont know wanna put Ryan through so much- just for them to tell me- "Oh he is allergic to pollen- but he is to young for meds... so see ya in a year.."

Since we know his allergies are environmental- there really isnt anything I can do to control it...therefore Id rather wait to go until they can treat him...

KWIM?

TIA

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

I didn't take the kids, but I've been for myself.

Skin testing is when they put samples of allergens on your skin in liquid form and see what becomes red and itchy and then they know you are allergic to it. It's a very small amount and they did mine on the underside of my forearm. It doesn't puncture the skin and doesn't hurt, but it does itch A LOT depending on how allergic you are to the allergen. You aren't supposed to touch it for 15 mins, which could be tough to prevent a kid from doing.

I'd bring him. Even if they can't give him medication, you may get advice on how to reduce the allergen in your home. Maybe they'll suggest special bedding or a vaccum with a HEPA filter, etc. I would rather know and try to treat it as best as possible than always wonder what it was that was setting him off.

Message edited 11/20/2006 4:03:09 PM.

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

I briefly spoke with the pediatrician today about allergists since Emily has a cold and I wanted to get her ears checked out since she was tugging on them....

Emily had a peanutbutter cookie once and her whole face turned red....so I mentioned it and asked if I should bring her to an allergist and she said not yet --- that when they are young they are sometimes sensitive to things but that they can grow out of it. She said not to give her things that she has an allergic reaction to until she is more like 3 years old...

I don't know if it would apply the same for something in the air that RJ is allergic to. Is there any way that your pediatrician or the allergist he recommends can give you a run down of what they'd do exactly beforey ou bring him in? This way you'd know what to expect and whether or not it is worth it.

Also, are the problems with his stuffy nose and red eye significant enough that you'd want to do other things to help alleviate them, or are they something you guys can live with?

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

There are definitely things you can do besides medicine to help him if he has allergies. Things around the house. I don't see any reason not to see the Dr. It can't hurt and can only help get you some answers and/or advice.

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

my newphew saw an allergist when he was maybe 1 1/2 years old. I forgot the real reason behind it, but he was sick alot when he was young. I believe it was a sweat test on his arm, they wrap it with gauze and let him sit there for a while, then they take it off and use the sweat from it to test for allergies. It turned out he has a very bad allergy to nuts, he needs an epi pen to be with him at all times, and also a milk allergy. Now I don't know what else they looked for, but from waht I know he doesn't have any air allergies, so I really can't help you with that. This post probably really didn't help answer any of your questions. Good Luck with Ryan. I say take him to the allergist and see what they say and what they can do for him.

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Do you guys have carpeting in your house?

Besides the dr, when we all were diagnosed with allergies, especially airborne ones, the first thing the dr asked was about the carpet, drapes, and comforters.

It turns out that when my parents ripped up all of our carpets, there was mold under them that caused our allergic reactions. I still have airborne allergies, but not as bad, i have hardwood in my house.

DR told me to remove all rugs from the bedrooms, wash curtains on a biweekly-monthly basis, and wash comforters weekly.

I am sorry to not answer your question about the dr procedures, but i know this could be something you could do at home in the meantime maybe

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Could you get some air purifiers for each room to help the enviornmental allergy?

Any possibility that it could be a detergent or cleaner that you use?

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Posted by sweetness

Do you guys have carpeting in your house?

Besides the dr, when we all were diagnosed with allergies, especially airborne ones, the first thing the dr asked was about the carpet, drapes, and comforters.

It turns out that when my parents ripped up all of our carpets, there was mold under them that caused our allergic reactions. I still have airborne allergies, but not as bad, i have hardwood in my house.

DR told me to remove all rugs from the bedrooms, wash curtains on a biweekly-monthly basis, and wash comforters weekly.

I am sorry to not answer your question about the dr procedures, but i know this could be something you could do at home in the meantime maybe

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Posted by sweetness

Do you guys have carpeting in your house?

Besides the dr, when we all were diagnosed with allergies, especially airborne ones, the first thing the dr asked was about the carpet, drapes, and comforters.

It turns out that when my parents ripped up all of our carpets, there was mold under them that caused our allergic reactions. I still have airborne allergies, but not as bad, i have hardwood in my house.

DR told me to remove all rugs from the bedrooms, wash curtains on a biweekly-monthly basis, and wash comforters weekly.

I am sorry to not answer your question about the dr procedures, but i know this could be something you could do at home in the meantime maybe

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Posted by Princessmaris


I do have carpets... no curtain or drapes though....

However- I think since it only happened this season- they are pretty sure its something- outside related....

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Re: For those who have brought their child to an allergist

Well I spoke to the ped. on the phone... since the drops have made a HUGE improvement on DS eye (basically its all better- I just gotta pray it stays all better)

and since DS dosent seem effected by this "allergy/cold thing" Im gonna wait and see- if it dosent go away with the change of season, if it dosent improve, or gets worse- than Ill def. make the apt.

All I know is being a mom IS THE MOST STRESSFUL, WORRYFUL (is that even a word) job there is!