Investigation of food allergies can be quite involved. Until an allergy is diagnosed, it is important not to unnecessarily restrict foods, as this can adversely affect nutrition and growth.
The two medically- and scientifically-proven allergy tests are the Skin Prick Test (SPT) and the blood test (CAP RAST test). Other tests for allergies (for example hair analysis) are, to date, scientifically unproven and cannot be relied upon for diagnosis.
Once your child has been diagnosed with a food allergy, the key to managing the allergy is total avoidance of the food. Some people believe that multiple small exposures to the allergen will make the food allergy go away. This is not true, only total avoidance of problem foods will give your child the best chance of outgrowing their food allergy.
Most children will outgrow their allergies to cow’s milk, soy, wheat and egg. Unfortunately only about 20% will outgrow their reactions to peanuts, tree nuts and fish.
