If your child is allergic to dairy and keeps consuming foods with high dairy content, they could end up with other health problems like ear infections. If you think your child has an ear infection, the best thing you can do is bring them to the doctor for allergy testing.

What is allergy testing?

If your doctor thinks your child may be suffering from an allergy, they may recommend you get pediatric allergy testing in Phoenix done. If your pediatrician can perform the testing, then expect to be asked any of the following questions:

  • When did the symptoms start?
  • How many times has the reaction happened?
  • How long does it take before the symptoms start to appear when your child consumes a particular food or drink?
  • Do any other family members suffer from allergies?

Answering these questions as accurately as you can will help your pediatrician find out what’s causing the ear infection and to determine whether it’s linked to your child’s dairy allergies or not.

What can you expect during the test?

Pediatric doctors often recommend a skin test to check for allergies. If the doctor can’t pinpoint which allergen is causing the problems or if they suspect that your child is allergic to more than one allergen, they will recommend a skin test for several allergies at the same time. If the skin tests itch, let your doctor know, so your child can be given a prescription for an antihistamine or steroid cream. That should do the job of lessening the itch. Aside from a skin test, your doctor may also do a food challenge, especially if the results of the earlier tests remain inconclusive.

What treatments can your child go for?

If the results indicate that your child’s ear infection is linked to their dairy allergies, then your doctor will recommend a course of action, one that probably involves reducing the amount of dairy in their diet. Your doctor may also prescribe medication or allergy shots, as well as other ways for your child to avoid the allergen.

Know more about what you can do to manage the symptoms and how your child can avoid ear infections in the future. Make an appointment with a doctor today for pediatric allergy testing in Phoenix at Pediatrix. With a competent team of doctors and conclusive results, you can put an end to your child’s discomfort.