CHILDHOOD ALLERGY PROFILE (FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL)
What is it?The ImmunoCAP®' Childhood Allergy Profile measures IgE antibodies to common food and inhalant allergens, providing an accurate and convenient approach for confirming or ruling out many common allergies in symptomatic children. This test includes total IgE and 15 ImmunoCAP specific IgE allergens: cat dander, cockroach, codfish, dog dander, egg white, house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), milk, molds (Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum [Hormodendrum]), peanut, shrimp, soybean, walnut, and wheat
Why do I need it?The prevalence of allergic disease in children has increased markedly in recent decades. Symptoms include primarily gastrointestinal distress, recurrent otitis media, wheezing, and eczema at very young ages, with rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma predominating in later years. Limiting exposure to allergens during early childhood can reduce symptoms and even the prevalence of asthma later in childhood. Avoidance of allergenic food substances may also lead to future tolerance. In contrast, inappropriate elimination of food from the diet may negatively affect quality of life, nutritional status, and growth in children. Thus, accurate diagnosis of childhood allergy is critical for appropriate management.
In addition to patient history and physical evaluation, specific laboratory tests may be useful in evaluating the role of allergy in the patient’s illness. Use of specific IgE testing combined with clinical judgment can improve the ability of clinicians to identify atopy, reducing misclassification and influencing advice for allergen avoidance.
What do I do with the results?If your results are ‘abnormal’ or ‘out-of-range’ from the normal, please contact a health care provider. The interpretation of any laboratory test should be made only by a licensed nurse practitioner or physician.