Allergy FAQS

Blood tests and skin prick tests can be performed to look for allergy antibodies to a particular food or environmental allergen that a person may be allergic to. Skin prick tests are recommended as the preferred method. The results need to be interpreted by an Immunologist and Allergist.

Hills Allergy and Specialists Clinic provides assessment and management of food and environmental allergens.

As the name suggests, the skin (usually the arm or leg) is pricked with a sharp object called lancet (a commercially prepared medical instrument). The results are read after 15 minutes. A positive test looks like a “mosquito bite” with an itchy lump in the centre and redness around it. The treating specialist will interpret the results in conjunction with the patient's history and advise further management. A copy of the results is provided to the parents/carers on the day.

There is no strict age limit but the skin reactions are often diminished in very young infants and this can make interpretation of results challenging. Therefore, skin prick tests for children under the age of 2 years should be performed in a specialist practice.

We perform skin prick tests to a wide range of allergens including food (milk, soy, egg, grains, peanuts/tree nuts, fish/shellfish, fruits/vegetables, meats), dust mites, pollen, mould and pets/ animals. We also perform skin prick testing to fresh foods.

The risk of systemic or severe reaction is very rare. Skin prick test is a very safe procedure. The expected reaction on the skin is an area of lump and redness (like a “mosquito bite”). These tests should only be performed by trained and experienced medical staff, in centres with appropriate facilities to treat severe reaction.

Food challenges are highly specialised supervised procedures performed by health care professionals specialised in the field of allergy. Your child needs to be assessed by a clinical immunology/allergy specialist first to determine their eligibility for this procedure.

During a supervised food challenge, the patient is given small and incremental amounts of a food in a medical specialist clinic. The patient is continuously monitored for signs of an allergic reaction to the food being challenged. If there is no reaction, the patient is advised to continue the food in their diet regularly. But if there is an allergic reaction, the patient is advised to continue avoiding that particular food. The challenges in our clinic are performed by experienced staff and supervised by a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

Most food challenges take a minimum of 4-6 hours and this includes 2-3 hours to eat the required doses of food, followed by 1-2 hours of observation.

For further information, please contact our clinic.

Please call our office to discuss this. Your child will need to be assessed by an Allergist and Immunologist to determine their eligibility for a food challenge.

A number of medications can affect the skin prick test results and must be stopped before the appointment.

Stop the medications containing antihistamines 3 days before appointment including:

• Commonly used medications: Aerius, Claratyne, Zyrtec, Telfast, Lorapaed, Dimetapp, Demazin, Cordral, Phenergan, Polaramine
• Nose sprays containing antihistamines (Ryaltris, Dymista, Zyrtec)
• Steroid creams

The following medications DO NOT interfere with skin prick tests, therefore, can be continued:

• Asthma medications: Ventolin, Flixotide, Seretide, Singulair
• Steroid nose sprays (Nasonex, Rhinocort)

Please refer to the table of medications in our services section (Download PDF) if your child is on regular medications. If you are not sure, email us the list all the medications your child is taking 3 days prior to the appointment.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT), also known as desensitisation, switches off the allergy by retraining the immune system. It involves introducing small doses of allergen extracts, by injections, sublingual tablets, sprays or drops. AIT treatment is given over a period of time, usually 3 to 5 years.