August 07, 2024

Pediatric Allergy Testing Explained

Pediatric Allergy Testing: What is the Allergy March?

Allergic diseases can begin in infancy and may even change over time. This disease progression in children is called the allergy march (atopic march).

It starts with atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergies in infancy, and then moves onto allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma in childhood ¹.

Luckily, this march can be interrupted with treatment and the identification and avoidance of triggers ¹.

 

Fast Facts

  • 45% of children affected with AD were younger than 6 months ¹.
  • Children with AD are 6x more likely to develop a food allergy ².
  • Up to 62% of children with AD also were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis ¹.
  • Presence of AD leads to increased asthma severity and greater asthma persistence into adulthood ².
Why test for allergen components? →

 

Halting the Progression

Parents can’t address what they don’t know. Runny nose, rash, and an upset tummy can be indicative of allergic disease. Don’t just treat symptoms! Talk to your healthcare provider to get to the bottom of your child’s symptoms with an allergy blood test.

 

A peek into the March

Allergy tests can help identify the cause of your child’s symptoms. To effectively manage these symptoms, you need an accurate diagnosis of what’s triggering them. Results from diagnostic testing for allergies may rule in or rule out allergen sensitization. If allergies are diagnosed, triggers can be identified and avoided.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of allergic disease- such as runny nose, rash, upset tummy, and asthma- talk to your pediatrician about allergy testing. Avoiding triggers and treating allergic diseases may interfere with, delay, and block the natural process of the atopic march ¹.

 

 

References:
¹ Yang, L., Fu, J., & Zhou, Y. (2020). Research Progress in Atopic March. Frontiers in immunology, 11, 1907. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01907.

² Hill, D. A., & Spergel, J. M. (2018). The atopic march: Critical evidence and clinical relevance. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 120(2), 131–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2017.10.037