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Allergy Testing

ALLERGY CLINIC:

Allergy testing at Spiddal Medical CentreDr. Hilary Allen provides an Allergy Clinic for children and adults.

What to expect:

The allergy consultation takes approximately 1 hour. It involves a detailed history followed by skin prick testing and occasionally, blood testing. An allergy is then confirmed or outruled as a cause of the underlying symptoms. Some types of allergy are diagnosed on history alone and do not require testing. An individualised management plan is provided.

What conditions are treated:

  • Anaphylaxis
  • Food Allergy – immediate (rash, swelling, breathing difficulties) and delayed (colic,
    reflux, constipation, diarrhoea)
  • Hayfever
  • Asthma
  • Eczema
  • Urticaria (Hive-type rash)

Services provided:

  • Comprehensive allergy assessment
  • Allergy testing
  • Individualised allergy management plan
  • Education on allergy self-management
  • Allergen avoidance advice
  • Adrenaline Pen prescription and education on appropriate use
  • Optimised management of Asthma / Eczema / Hayfever
  • Oral immunotherapy for Hayfever
  • A comprehensive report is sent to your GP

What conditions are not treated:

  • Drug allergy testing
  • Bee / Wasp allergy testing and immunotherapy
  • Patch testing for contact dermatitis

What age can children be tested?

Food allergy usually presents at the age of weaning. Therefore, allergy testing is performed
on children as young as 5-6 months old.

Allergy can present prior to this age in the form of eczema or delayed allergy symptoms
such as colic, reflux, constipation and feeding difficulties. Therefore, a comprehensive
allergy consultation in very young babies with these symptoms is appropriate and testing
may then be performed when the child is 6 months old.

What should I do prior to my appointment?

  • No antihistamines should be taken for 1 week prior to allergy testing. If it is
    necessary to take them, then please contact the clinic to let us know in case your
    appointment needs to be re-scheduled.
  • If you / your child has a fever or is unwell in the preceding 24 hours, then please re-
    schedule the appointment.

COST?

Intial consultation : 150 euro

Review consultation : 100 euro.