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Scratch Test For Food Allergies

Caseysmommy

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Caseysmommy Apprentice
Caseysmommy
Posted

Wondering if anyone else had to get a scratch test on there toddler? How does it go does it hurt. Also do you know how much it is. I have a high deductable so my insurance dosent cover it. Also I have already put her on Gluten free and she has approved but now seems to react to other foods, Watermelon, tomatoes, vinager to name a few. Any advice. Angie

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Cinnamon Apprentice
Cinnamon
Posted

No, the scratch test doesn't hurt at all. I had 3 of my kids tested and they weren't bothered in the least, and I just had it done Friday and it's quite painless. Don't know how much it costs since I haven't got the bill yet, but I've heard it's inexpensive.

It may not show anything, since celiac is an IgA reaction and the scratch test only checks for IgE reactions .There are also IgG food reactions, which are harder to diagnose. So if she comes out negative, that doesn't mean all is well with her and gluten. If she's improved on a gluten free diet, that tells you something right there. It doesn't tell you whether it's an IgA or IgG or IgE reaction, but it does show an intolerance to gluten, at least.

It's great that you are finding this out so early in her life! You'll be able to spare her a lot of difficulties. My son was 10 and daughter 11 before we finally figured out what was wrong.

Cinnamon Apprentice
Cinnamon
Posted

Whoops, you didn't say whether Casey is a boy or girl and I assumed girl, since I know a girl Casey. My apologies if it's a he and not a she!

Amyleigh0007 Enthusiast
Amyleigh0007
Posted

I had the scratch test done. It did not hurt although not touching the spots where the oil is would be hard for a toddler. I just got my statement and it was $280.

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

My daughter had it done at about age 3 and again recently at age 10. At age 3 they did her arm. At age 10 they did her back. The hardest part was keeping her still for the 20 minutes or so it took to wait for a reaction. It wasn't fun but it didn't hurt.

Caseysmommy Apprentice
Caseysmommy
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for your replies it makes me feel better that it dosent hurt. Also Casey is a girl.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I've had two - the scratches on the back didn't hurt, though some of them tickled *a lot*, and you can't move, so I wouldn't describe it as pleasant! (it was in the lower area, and I had a *lot* of scratches.) they followed up with subdermal testing, however, which was not painless (it's a shot of the allergen under the dermis), so it's worth asking the allergist about how much testing they're going to be doing.

(and, of course, allergy testing won't detect food intolerances and chemical sensitivities, only allergies.)

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  • 2 weeks later...
jillb Rookie
jillb
Posted
Thank you for your replies it makes me feel better that it dosent hurt. Also Casey is a girl.

You may want to research mast cell entercolitis. This is what I have and it includes gluten intolerance and problems with tomatoe, vinegar, fermented food, chocolate, coffee, aged foods. I guess it is genetically related to celiac. I am on antihistamines which helps alot.

ECD Newbie
ECD
Posted

I have to get scratch testing done soon, so I'm glad to hear it doesn't hurt even though I'm 23 and not 3 :) Sitting still for twenty minutes, combined with itchy hives, is what I've been told is the most difficult part. Maybe you could bring some books or something that'll keep her distracted but less wiggly?

mindwiped Rookie
mindwiped
Posted

I'll agree that it doesn't hurt, I've had the whole environmental series ran twice, but I found it incredible that both times they managed to get the allergens I'm most sensitive to right under where the bra's straps go. My allergist had a 'no itch' spray for after it was all said and done, and I took oral benedryl AFTER it was done (don't take before, it'll mess up the results). The hardest part is to lay still and not scratch.

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    • Jess270
      Bitters for digestion?

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      This sounds to me like histamine intolerance. Some foods have more or less histamine. processed or aged meats, fermented food like yoghurt or kimchi and bread (yeast), spinach, eggplant and mushroom are high in histamine. Other foods like tomatoes are histamine liberators, they encourage your mast cells to release histamine, which can also trigger the reactions you describe, flu like symptoms, joint pain, urinary tract irritation, rash, stomach upset, nausea, diarrhoea & fatigue. I had liver pain like you describe, as part of the intolerance is usually a sluggish liver that makes processing all the histamine difficult. There are multiple possible root causes of histamine intolerance, usually it’s a symptom of something else. In my case, leaky gut (damaged gut wall)caused by undiagnosed celiac, but for others it’s leaky gut caused by other things like dysbiosis. Some people also experience histamine intolerance due to mould exposure or low levels of DAO (the enzyme that breaks down histamine in the gut). I’d try a low histamine diet & if that doesn’t improve symptoms fully, try low oxalate too. As others have suggested, supplements like vitamin d, b, l-glutamine to support a healthy gut & a good liver support supplement too. If you’re in a histamine flare take vitamin c to bowel tolerance & your symptoms will calm down (avoid if you find you have oxalate intolerance though). Best of luck 
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