3084 Your Paediatric Allergy Appointment
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Hello.
You have been asked to
come to a paediatric allergy clinic
because either your or
your GP are concerned that
your child has an allergy.
This video will tell
you about the appointment,
and how best to prepare for it.
Firstly, if you can’t attend the
appointment you have been given,
please call us to to
make alternative arrangements
Your child must stop
taking any antihistamine
medication before the appointment.
The appointment letter
will tell you what to do.
On the day of the appointment,
please bring any medications
which your child takes
as well as any foods or substances which trigger the reaction.
Arrive at the hospital in plenty of time so that you can find a parking space,
and make your way to the clinic.
The appointment may
last for up to an hour.
When you arrive, please tell the receptionist that you are here.
You and your child will be
called in to see the doctor.
To begin, the doctor will
want to find out about your child
and what you have seen that makes you think that they have an allergy.
Here are some
examples of the questions
which they are likely to ask you
Does your child have
asthma, eczema or hay fever,
or is there is any family
history of these conditions?
Was your child bottle or breast fed,
and how old were they
when they were weaned?
What are the main
foods in your child’s diet?
Are there some foods
your child cannot eat
for cultural and religious reasons?
They will then want to know
about the foods or substances
that seem to cause an
allergic reaction for your child.
We call these allergens:
What is it that seems
to cause an allergic reaction?
What was the age of your child when
they first had their reaction,
and who observed it?
What is the exact
nature of the allergic reaction
and is it the same every time?
How quickly did the symptoms
occur after your child
comes in to contact
with the allergen?
And how much of the allergen is required to trigger a response?
What is the frequency
of allergic reactions,
and are these are at
home, school or elsewhere
What treatments has your
child received for their allergy,
and have these worked?
This includes
medications, diet changes
and avoidance of certain substances.
It helps if you have thought about the answers to some of these questions
before the meeting,
so that you can provide
as much information as possible.
Your child will be examined,
weighed and measured,
looking specifically at their growth, any indications that your child
is not eating enough, and for
any signs of eczema, asthma
and hay fever.
The doctor will decide if any further investigations are required.
A skin prick test is the
most common test we do,
and this can often be
done on the same day.
If your child needs a blood test,
we may have to call
you back on another day.
Most of the time, your
child will be given a diagnosis
by the doctor on the same day.
If you have any
questions about the clinic,
please ring the appointment office.