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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I check for definite food allergies?

    Related Topics
    Children's Health Eczema Food Allergies
    My 15-month-old son has eczema and had blood tests taken from our doctor. They came back with moderate results for soybean, wheat, milk, egg whites and peanuts. What type of test do I now need to take in order to know which particular food type is causing his eczema to flare up ? Does he need to go to a specialist to have this done? Also, would he need to be tested for other allergies eg dust etc to see if this may be the cause as well ? I am finding it hard to find foods he can have in the meantime.
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    Emma Warner

    Psychologist

    A Registered Psychologist with over 12 years experience with young people and adults with a focus on Anxiety. Special area of interest is the psychosocial … View Profile

    If your child is having adverse reactions to food then you may want to see a Pediatric Allergist. They will be able to confirm for you what food/s and environmental allergens your child is Allergic to and will be able to start the process to which food replacements you can give your child, and will likely refer you to a Dietitian for further support. You may want to have a look at Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia's website for more information https://www.allergyfacts.org.au/ I hope this is a starting point for you. I am a Psychologist and mother of a child with food allergies, this was the process we took. You can request a referral from your GP for a private Allergist or be waitlisted in the public heath system. My recommendation to you when you go to see the Allergist is be well equipped with information, for example photos of how bad the excema can be, a list of foods or other allergens you already suspect. It is helpful to keep a log or a diary so you can see when flare ups occur and if you suspect this is food or environmental related. Keep food packaging to show listed ingredients. All the best.

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  • Dr Liam Beiglari

    Allergy Specialist & Immunologist

    I am a clinical immunologist and allergist. I am experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with allergic diseases, autoimmune conditions, those living … View Profile

    This is a common question we encounter in the allergy clinic. Eczema (or atopic dermatitis) is not cause by food allergy. In the skin of people who do not have eczema the skin barrier functions normally (by keeping moisture in and irritants out). But in the skin of people with eczema this barrier is more likely to lose moisture and irritants to break through. Neither of these processes are caused by food allergy. (Very good information present at https://preventallergies.org.au/eczema/what-is-eczema/) You didn't mention if your son has had anything resembling an allergic reaction to the foods he has tested positive for. It is a pillar of our practice in the allergy clinic to take a detailed history of any foods that may be causing reactions. Skin testing or blood tests are only ordered to investigate further if there is a reasonable index of suspicion for food allergy. We tend to see a lot of patients without evidence of food allergy but who have undergone unnecessary testing in order to find out what is driving their eczema. These patients sometimes return positive results despite being able to tolerate those foods without obvious reactions before. These positive results often reflect "sensitisation" without evidence of "allergy" and it can be tricky to safely re-introduce these foods, especially if they have been avoided for a long time. I agree with Emma's recommendation to see a paediatric allergist. They will be able to take the time to ask you a detailed history, decide if further testing is required, and safely re-introduce foods into your son's diet. All while treating his eczema.

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