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Blood test calms toddler's fears... and mom's, too

My son Joel was born with a cleft lip and palate. His condition necessitated lip surgery when he was 3 months old and palate repair around his first birthday. His fragile state prior to the second surgery is part of the reason I was concerned about a rash that developed on his face. My concern grew when the problem quickly spread to the rest of his body. I knew we were dealing with more than just dry skin.

I gave Joel an over-the-counter antihistamine to stop the itching and quickly took him to the pediatrician. The medication made Joel feel 60 percent better, but that wasn’t enough. The doctor knew that we were dealing with some kind of food allergy.

The idea of allergy tests struck fear in the heart of this 33-year-old first-time mom. If anybody knows the pain of allergies, it’s me. When I was a toddler, my mother, an infection control nurse, walked on pins and needles every time I ate. She finally pinpointed my aversion to egg whites and citric acid by a process of elimination. That brought the problem under control until the day I came home from college looking like a burn victim. I had eczema all over my face and a sinus infection that lasted a semester. Petroleum jelly, hydrocortisone cream, and tissues became my constant companions.

Remembering the day when I suffered through 70 needle pricks and 9 intradermals in order to uncover my specific allergies, I knew I didn’t want my son to go through the same process. So I researched every possible alternative. I pored over literature and called numerous allergists to inquire about their procedures. Finally, on a tip from my mother, I called Pharmacia Diagnostics directly and learned about the ImmunoCAP® Allergy blood test. Finding out there was a blood test was like a gift from God. It is one simple poke, not 70. And there is no threat of anaphylactic shock or reaction to the allergen.

On his first visit to the pediatric allergist, Joel gave up a small vial of blood that revealed he is allergic to wheat, eggs, and peanuts. Because he was getting the allergens through breast milk, I adjusted my diet and, as I weaned Joel off milk to solid foods, I carefully monitored everything he ate.

There has been a dramatic difference in Joel’s attitude since the confirmation of his allergies. I didn’t realize how miserable he was before. Now I see a joy in him that just wasn’t there before. And I feel good knowing that he won’t have to go through the same long, drawn-out procedures that I went through.

While I liked the pediatric allergist we worked with, I was frustrated by his desire to skin test. His actions made it clear that blood tests threaten his business, and he continues to recommend skin tests to other parents. That’s why I share my story whenever possible. There is no reason to torture a child with dozens of pokes. If we don’t protect our children, who will?

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