K.S.
My 17 yr old daughter suffered with allergies since she was six years old. She would come home from school with shiners under her eyes, sniffling. We noticed that she also started to react to cats. Itchy eyes and such. And then the milk sensitivity. Apples were next. We finally had her tested last September and it showed several allergies we never guessed!
We have been raising guinea pigs since they are like kittens and she didn't seem allergic to rodents. When the tests came back, she was not only allergic to cats and dogs, but also the piggies! We thought it was just the hay they ate that she was allergic to.
Turns out, she is not allergic to apples, just the pollen on the skin of the apple. And she wasn't allergic to the Timothy hay, just the pollen that the grass collects (and is dispersed when cut). She is not allergic to milk, just lactose intolerant.
So, getting your child tested early rather than later is a better idea. It gives you a better road map for avoidance and may surprise you. It might not be a food allergy, but pollen attached to the food. My daughter doesn't react to applesauce, just raw, unpeeled apples.
The testing isn't too bad. I think it took 15 minutes for the type of skin testing they used. They have this plastic "comb" sort of thing and they dip the tips of the plastic comb in a tray (like a small ice cube tray) with each pocket filled with serum of typical allergens. They then press this on the child's back. It doesn't hurt. The child has to lay on their stomach for about 15 or 20 mins. You can actually see hives marking the different spots. Each panel is marked on the skin so they can gauge how large the reaction is and give you a print out of everything.
They can send out to have the allergy shot serum made, specifically for the things your child is allergic to. Kids come in once a week to have their allergy shot. Usually given in the arm (subcutaneously, in the fat layer, not the muscle). They have to have the shot somewhere where they can handle any severe allergic reactions. We take her to the ER where her dad works and he gives her the shots. But people usually just go to the allergists office.
There is also a blood test for tracking down the allergies. I don't know if it covers everything you may want to check, but that is a fine option, too. And there is a sublingual (under the tongue) administration available, which is nice when you think of how children usually view getting shots. We go to the Allergy and Asthma Specialists,PC. located in Blue Bell ###-###-####). They have offices in Lansdale, Jenkintown, Pottstown, Collegeville, Doylestown and Phila. I guess you can call the one to get the number of the closest office.
I am anxious to see if the start of the allergy season (which could be now) will bring fewer symptoms for my daughter. She may even be able to abandon some of her chronic medications and stop having to use her inhaler. Maybe someday, she can own a cat or dog!