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Diagnostic accuracy of the atopy patch test and the skin‐prick test for the diagnosis of food allergy in young children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome
Author(s) -
Strömberg L
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2002.tb00097.x
Subject(s) - atopy , medicine , patch test , atopic dermatitis , dermatology , allergy , food allergy , immunology
Aim : To evaluate the diagnostic value of the skin‐prick test and the atopy patch test in diagnosing basic food allergy in young children suffering from atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome. Methods : 141 children, the majority under 2y of age (mean 16 mo) with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome were investigated using skin‐prick and atopy patch tests for milk, egg, wheat and rye. Open diagnostic elimination challenge was done since this has been reported to be a reliable method in young children. Results : A positive challenge response was found to milk in 63 (45%), egg in 78 (55%), wheat in 61 (43%) and rye in 61 (43%). Sensitivity/specificity of the atopy patch test was 60%/97% for milk, 71%/97% for egg, 90%/94% for wheat and 93%/90% for rye. For the skin‐prick test the corresponding figures were 41%/99%, 60%/97%, 13%/98% and 15%/99%. Conclusion : Patch testing was found to be a more sensitive method than the skin‐prick test in diagnosing food allergy in children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome, especially in those under 2 y of age. Many children with a negative skin‐prick test result have a positive patch test result, especially in the case of cereals. A diagnosis of food allergy should be confirmed by elimination and in the research setting also by challenge.