Patch testing is a method for looking for immunological reactivity to common foods. Patch testing looks at "delayed" or "Non-IgE mediated reactions. Patch testing has value in eosinophillic Oesophagitis and atopic dermatitis , although sometimes use to help identify foods that may cause bowel disturbance.When food is placed in contact with the skin, the specialised cells in the skin pick up the food proteins and present it to the immune system.If the child has sensitivity to that food, they will react with inflammation at the site of the food over the next 2-3 days. This gives us a 'window' to what is happening in the gastrointestinal tract with foods.
We place the food is to stay under the caps for the 72 hours. This can indicate the food that may be irritating the immune system. The child should not be on any antihistamines, oral steroids or Singulair during this testing.
So the Journey with the Atopy Patch test again in the hope to maybe Add some new foods to her 3 ONLY safe foods at this stage. I wasn't quite sure what will happen this time due to the fact she is so much older than last times, thought my luck was not so great with her keeping them on, as it is she pulls all tags off her clothe. In that case thought we had no chance in them staying on the full 72 hours. So I spoke to her about them days prior to actually putting them on just to get her prepared with the whole idea. At this stage these conversations went quite well and explained why they were on, at 3 she seem to understand what I meant quite well.
So the day arrive that had planned to put on the patches and to add more understanding for her age we decided that her babies needed to have their patches put on their backs as well, when the day came to take them off she could take them off her babies as well.As you can see in the photo, two of her little babies were having their patch tests done as well, so after our angel had her put on her back the babies were done and ready to share the journey of the next 72 hours with her.
Also with the encouragement of keeping them one when at one stage she was asking for them off, we said if she was a big girl and kept these on she could pick a prize at Mr Toys, for being such a big girl and leaving the patches on the whole 72 hours that was needed for the test to be completed and read.
She was such a great little thing no problems, just her little voice saying is it Mr Toys day yet mummy .... That day came just Friday 2pm this week and we woke with a bouncing little one wanting go Mr Toys, we went the first thing in the morning. She had a ball choosing herself a little baby ( yes another one as my hubby said) and a little bottle to feed her with. Huge smiles gleamed her face.
Well 2 pm arrive and took patches off to find under first one was only 2 little papules which class as a grade 1 reaction which is great start, the next was a grease 2 Induration meaning like welt, then the 3rd patch came off with a mix of welt and papules and red. The ones that read and higher grade are more than likely to be avoided at this point in time and if lower grade or no reaction, we are able to do trial by mouth
Oh not to mention her baby dolls patches were taken off as well and shared the experience with her.
This photo below is the patch test of Quinoa Flour with the hope of being able to make some cookies for her at this stage with Quinoa will have to wait.
At the end of Patch test we discovered we had a bigger challenge on our hands then we had faced ever with her FPIES condition, as i write this blog she has been refusing her main diet supplement, her prescription formula since yesterday morning. Will certainly write a blog about this challenge and with the outcome as no doubt she isn't the first one to do this.
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