Allergy testing

If there is a reaction, treat it like an allergy. Who cares about the label? Just save his/her life!

As the parent of a child who tested positive (skin test) and has no symptoms, this is a very confusing issue for me. I have no answer. I just wonder how a test can be positive without SOMETHING going on in the body that shouldn't be. Also, with a small child, you don't know that there aren't symptoms. The child could have an itchy mouth and you wouldn't know it.
As to why do the test--Ben was tested because of a reaction to walnuts. He was tested for all nuts and peanuts. I guess it's just standard procedure, but I'm not sure what good it does.

My allergist said "Come back in 1 year", then the written follow-up said "Come back in 2 years", so we're going by the written follow-up.
In Cayley's case, however, she has a few environmental allergies, and the allergist told me these tend to multiply and worsen with age, so we want to keep tabs on exactly which of those allergies to keep an eye on. She may end up needing to be on a daily antihistamine during "allergy season".
I don't know if retesting for PA is even something he will do at this 2 year appointment (which isn't until July 2002). She reacted to the merest residue of PB at Christmas, so I highly doubt she'll have outgrown it before the appointment.

My allergist recommended every two years. She has gone at age two and four and will be going again when she turns six. Since we moved from Seattle, WA, I was told to wait at least a year to two years to have the outside allergens tested since it could take that long for her body to adjust. We live in West Palm Beach, FL now and I am pretty sure the mango trees bother her.
Also, she seems to be able to use a cold washcloth on her eye's for the allergies instead of any medicines. I am very nervous about giving her anything other than benadryl since she should not have claritin and benadryl. I am more fearful of the food allergy showing up then the benifit of a prescription for the seasonal allergies.

That's interesting. Austin tested + a year ago, and he's being retested in July (he'll be 2). Allergist said they would not retest for peanut at all. When I talked to the ped about retesting, he said "but they're not testing him again for peanuts, are they?" His tone was he didn't want him retested for peanuts.......

Momof4, why can't she have Claritin and Benadryl? I've always been told that although they are both antihistamines, you can take them at the same time if necessary. My son takes Claritin daily and Benadryl as needed for reactions.
Rebekah

My daughter is PA, but haven't yet had my son tested. He is 20 months old. How young were your kids when they were first tested for PA.

Some allergists seem reluctant to test kids before age 2 or 3, but given that there's a history of PA in your family, I don't see why you couldn't have your son tested now.
My son was tested (blood test at the ped, then scratch test at the allergist) at 13 months. False positives are possible, of course, but since we'd already seen a peanut reaction we assume at least the peanut diagnosis was correct.
Miriam

I would probably try to narrow it down, and then get some testing done by an allergist. What are your symptoms? Do you react at work, at home, outside? Is is food related? Does an over-the-counter antihistamine help? (If so, it could be allergies.) Try to get as good an idea as possible when it's happening and what circumstances you are in when it happens. That will help you and an allergist figure it out.