A food challenge is a test that's used to find out if someone is allergic to a certain food or has outgrown an allergy. 

Your child had an allergic reaction after eating the food, so the test was stopped. The health care provider treated your child's allergic reaction and watched them for several hours to make sure the reaction was under control. 

You can now care for your child at home. Watch them carefully for the rest of the day since sometimes a late reaction can happen.

• Your child is allergic to the tested food and needs to completely avoid eating it.
• Have your child take it easy for the rest of the day. No athletics or vigorous play.
• Watch your child for the rest of the day for any signs of an allergic reaction. Be sure you know how to recognize signs of a severe allergic reaction and what to do (see below). 
• Talk with your child about managing their food allergy, including the importance of reading food labels and always having epinephrine with them. 
• Make sure your child always has epinephrine with them, including at school, childcare, and activities. Make sure the epinephrine has not expired, and don't leave it in cars or other places where it could be exposed to too much heat, cold, or sunlight.
• Be sure your child's teachers, caregivers, and parents of your child's friends know:
  • What your child is allergic to
  • What the signs of an allergic reaction are
  • What to do if your child has signs of an allergic reaction 
• Follow your health care provider's instructions about restarting any medicines that your child was taking before the test. 
• Your child may feel disappointed about the test results. Make sure they know you are proud of them for taking the test. If you are worried about your child, talk to your health care provider or a mental health specialist for ways to help your child adjust.
• Follow up as instructed by your health care provider.

Your child has one of these signs of a mild allergic reaction:

• Red bumps (hives) anywhere on the body 
• Skin itching, redness, or swelling
• Sneezing or a stuffy, runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Coughing

If your child has more than one of these mild signs, or a mild sign is getting worse, call 911 and give the epinephrine (see below).

Your child has any signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as:

• Swelling of the mouth or tongue
• Trouble swallowing
• Trouble speaking or hoarseness
• Throat tightness, wheezing, or trouble breathing
• Belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Dizziness or fainting
• A feeling like something bad is about to happen

Follow these steps:

1. Have someone call 911 while you give the epinephrine. If you're alone, give epinephrine first, then immediately call 911.
2. Lay your child down with their legs raised while you wait for the ambulance. Give epinephrine again if their symptoms don't go away, get worse, or go away and then come back. If your child stops breathing or doesn't have a pulse, start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Why are food challenge tests done? A food challenge test can help doctors find out:

• If a child has an allergy when the results of other tests are unclear
• If a child has outgrown an allergy

Where can I get more information about managing food allergies? You can learn more online at the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) website: foodallergy.org.