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Allergic contact dermatitis in 136 children patch tested between 2000 and 2006
Author(s) -
Hammonds L. Mark,
Hall Virginia C.,
Yiannias James A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.03890.x
Subject(s) - medicine , patch test , allergic contact dermatitis , patch testing , contact dermatitis , allergen , population , thimerosal , pediatrics , dermatology , clinical significance , allergy , immunology , environmental health
Background Allergic contact dermatitis is often under‐recognized in the pediatric population but it may affect greater than 20% of this age group. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the Mayo Rochester, Jacksonville and Arizona patch test database of all children 18 or younger over a 7‐year period (January 1, 2000–December 31, 2006). Results One‐hundred thirty‐six children were patch tested from age 3 to 18. Females constituted 66% of those tested and males 34%. Eighty percent of the children were equally distributed between age groups 11–15 and 16–18, with the remainder being 10 years or younger. Sixty‐one percent of the children tested positive to at least one allergen. Fifty‐three percent of these reactions were deemed to be of current relevance, 31% questionable relevance, 5% past relevance, and 10% not relevant. Males younger than 10 were most likely to have a positive patch test. However, the percent of positive tests in males decreased with increasing age. Females younger than age 10 were less likely to have a positive test than older females. The most common allergens were nickel, cobalt, gold, and thimerosal. Conclusion In children suspected to have allergic contact dermatitis, 61% were confirmed to have a positive reaction to at least one allergen. The utility of patch testing children whose clinical presentation is suggestive for allergic contact dermatitis is high.