Why you should consider testing for allergies?

I’ve been allergic to penicillin since I was about 11 months old when after an injection I developed red patches….My parents wanted to make sure that I am safe and no mistake will be done because of this so they kept repeating it to me. Growing up it was the first thing I was saying at the doctors. Until I met my husband I thought that allergies were only connected to medicines and animal hair.

I am also allergic to cats and every single time I am around them my skin starts to be very itchy. Strange as normally people just sneeze when they re allergic to cats or dogs right?

My husband has a bad allergy to dust and pollen – hay fever. Our daughters are a bit like their father especially during spring. Our youngest has also a bad reaction to cocoa…or something in the cocoa…she sneezes. And if she doesn’t stop eating it she will sneeze and sneeze. Our eldest also has a few digestive problems…she is getting constipated quite often and this is why we all eat as gluten free as possible.

But doing what we’ve been doing – playing the guessing game for the last couple of years is not good. So this is why we decided to all test for allergies and make sure we all eat and act appropiately.

Do you have any symptoms or do you think you might have an allergy?

Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. In some severe cases, allergies can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. So if you are worried about your children it’s always to be safe and test.

When should you test for allergies?

If you have any of the symptoms below you should probably test or take action:

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, can cause:

Sneezing
Itching of the nose, eyes or roof of the mouth
Runny, stuffy nose
Watery, red or swollen eyes (conjunctivitis)

A food allergy can cause:

Tingling in the mouth
Swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat
Hives
Anaphylaxis

A drug allergy can cause:

Hives
Itchy skin
Rash
Facial swelling
Wheezing
Anaphylaxis

Atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin condition also called eczema, can cause skin to:

Itch
Redden
Flake or peel

Some types of allergies, including allergies to foods and insect stings, can trigger a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis.

This is a life-threatening medical emergency, because anaphylaxis can cause you to go into shock.

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

Loss of consciousness
A drop in blood pressure
Severe shortness of breath
Skin rash
Lightheadedness
A rapid, weak pulse
Nausea and vomiting

If you or somebody in your family has a severe allergic reaction, call your local emergency number or seek emergency medical help. If you are in danger of developing a severe allergic reaction you should always carry an epinephrine auto-injector to be able to give yourself a shot right away.

You can test in several ways – at the hospital or you can use a home test for allergies like dust mites, food, hay fever or pet allergies. For complex testing I do recommend to take your kids to the a specialist though.

Do you have any experience with an allergy? Would love to hear from you.