Skin prick testing is the standard, rapid, and minimally invasive method for identifying specific allergen sensitisation in children with allergy and asthma. The procedure involves placing a small drop of each allergen extract on the forearm skin and using a fine lancet to make a tiny prick through the drop that introduces a microscopic amount of the allergen under the skin. The forearm is examined after 15 to 20 minutes, and a raised, reddened wheal at the site of a specific allergen indicates sensitisation to that allergen. Positive controls, typically histamine, and negative controls, typically a diluent, are always included to ensure the test is interpreting correctly. Skin prick testing is well tolerated by children of most ages, takes approximately 30 minutes from application to result, and is performed without blood sampling, which makes it much more acceptable to young children than blood testing. The test identifies sensitisation to the specific allergens included in the panel, which is selected based on the child's clinical history and the allergens relevant to their environment. Common panels include house dust mite, cockroach, moulds, local pollen, and common food allergens. The results of skin prick testing, interpreted in the context of the child's clinical symptoms, guide the personalised treatment plan including allergen avoidance strategies and immunotherapy candidacy. I hold the Fellowship in Advanced Allergy Procedures (FAAP), which specifically covers the performance and interpretation of allergen skin testing, and skin prick testing is performed at Dr. Debashish Roy's Child Care and Allergy-Asthma Center, Dhupguri, as part of a comprehensive allergy evaluation.
Written by Dr. Debashish Roy, MBBS, MD (Paediatrics), AASC (Allergy Asthma Specialist Course), FAAP (Fellowship in Advanced Allergy Procedures), ICCP (International Certification in Paediatric Pulmonology), Senior Consultant Pediatrician, Allergy and Asthma Specialist, Pediatric Pulmonologist and Immunologist, Founder, Dr. Debashish Roy's Child Care and Allergy-Asthma Center, Ward No. 12, Madhyaara, Santiniketan Road, Purba Daukimari, Dhupguri, West Bengal 735210 (Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM). Also at Basak Medical Hall, Birpara Tea Garden, West Bengal 735204 (Monday to Sunday, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM). 25+ years. 50,000+ patients. Phone: +91 9732822677 / 9332050468.
