ms_guimba : let me try to answer your questions:
1) Do we need to prepare anything before we consult her/him? We're from the province so I want to go prepared. I don't want unnecessary trips. Kawawa din ang baby while traveling.
A: Prepare copies of your baby’s medical record. If she has a baby book, bring it with you. Take note of when the rashes started, what areas were affected and all medications given (oral and topical, ex. creams and lotions) given by your pedia, how long it was given and if it helped clear away the rashes or had no effect. If you had pictures of the rashes, that would also be helpful to bring. Make a list of all the food your baby has been given, including milk. Was she breastfed? For how long was she breastfed? List down all suspected non-food triggers. Take note of your family history, particularly allergies, asthma and allergic rhinitis. Take note of your environment in the province. Is it dusty? Do you have pets/plants/grasses/empty lots?
Also, bring the referral letter from your pedia. It should show the pedia’s diagnosis for your baby’s skin sensitivities and the current medications she is taking/using.
Usually, the first visit consists of a lot of history taking, physical examination and evaluation. The procedures like skin prick testing usually come on the 2nd or 3rd visit. This will also give some time for rapport/trust building between your child and the doctor. Kasi, if your child will be undergoing a procedure on the first visit pa lang, then baka ma-trauma lang siya.
Expect that you will be asked to follow up.
2) Skin prick test din ba for babies?
Yes, the youngest age at which a skin test can be done is 3 months of age. This is based on a local study done in PGH. As to if your baby can undergo skin test on the 1st visit to the allergologist will depend on the following factors:
a. Is she taking anti-histamines?
Patients have to be off anti-histamines for at least 1 week before a skin prick test can be done. Why? If she is on anti-histamines, the test will just be negative so you’ll just be wasting time and money.
b. How is her skin condition, particularly the back area where the test will be done?
If her back has a lot of rashes, then it might be better to wait for such a time when the back is free from rashes. For adults, the skin prick test can be done on the forearms. This can be an alternative site for your child, too, in case the back is really full of rashes.
The allergen panel that will be tested for your baby may be different from the allergen panel that will be tested for an adult. It will depend on the exposures of your child.
The skin prick test, per se, is not painful. It can be very itchy, though. Normally, the placing of allergens will be finished in 10 to 15 minutes, with the results read after another 15 minutes, but with children, the test takes longer because there is the fear factor and the ngalay factor that we have to take into consideration. This is why it may be better to postpone the test till the next 2 or 3 visits para at least at ease na ang child sa doctor vs yung 1st visit pa lang, prick test na kaagad.
3) What's the price range for the tests or PF's?
PFs range from 400 to 1000, depending on where.
Skin prick tests may range from 3000 to 15,000 depending on where and how many allergens are tested.
From what province are you? Here is the website of the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. There is a listing of members (9 pages in all) and clinics (baka lang hindi na updated ang sked). You may be able to find an allergologist nearer your province than Manila.
www.psaai.org/membersHope this helps. Good luck!
