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Usefulness of the European standard series for patch testing in children. A 3-year single-centre study of 337
1Service de Dermatologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Pellegrin Enfants, Bordeaux, France.
Insights
Patch testing in children reveals a high positive rate (66%), particularly in those under 3. Researchers propose optimizing the standard series for pediatric patients due to common metal and fragrance allergies.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Patch testing is crucial for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis in children.
- Optimizing diagnostic tools is essential for accurate and efficient pediatric allergy assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze patch test results in children to optimize the standard series.
- To assess the relevance of common allergens in pediatric patients.
- To propose a revised, shortened patch test series for children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patch test results from 337 children aged 1-15.
- Data collected over a three-year period from a single pediatric unit.
- Evaluation of allergen frequency and reaction relevance.
Main Results:
- A high overall positive patch test rate of 66% was observed.
- Peak incidence of positive reactions occurred in children under 3 years old (88%).
- The most frequent allergens identified were metals (especially nickel), fragrances, and rubber chemicals.
Conclusions:
- Nickel allergy in children often shows weak correlation with exposure and can be difficult to interpret, especially in atopic dermatitis patients.
- A shortened, optimized standard series of patch tests is proposed for pediatric use.
- Further research may be needed to refine interpretation of metal allergies in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Results of patch tests in 337 children aged 1 to 15 performed in our paediatric unit during the past 3 years have been analysed retrospectively in order to optimize the patch test series and to assess their relevance. This study represents the most important single-centre study reported so far over a short period. We found a positive patch test rate of 66%, with a peak incidence among children less than 3 years of age (88% versus 58.9%). The most common allergens were metals, especially nickel, fragrances and, less frequently, rubber chemicals. Concerning nickel, positive reactions rarely correlated with a relevant exposure and were difficult to interpret, especially in patients with atopic dermatitis, who are probably more likely to have irritant or false-positive reactions to metals. Based on the results and their relevance, we propose a shortened standard series of patch tests for paediatric patients.