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Allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nikolaos G Bonitsis1, Athina Tatsioni, Konstantinos Bassioukas

  • 1Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina 45110, Greece.

Contact Dermatitis
|April 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study identified common allergens causing allergic contact dermatitis in children. Nickel sulfate, ammonium persulfate, and gold sodium thiosulfate were among the most frequent culprits, guiding future patch testing strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Allergology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common skin condition in children.
  • Identifying prevalent allergens is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
  • Current consensus on common pediatric allergens remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of positive reactions to various allergens in pediatric populations.
  • To identify specific allergens responsible for at least 1% of positive reactions in children.
  • To inform the selection of allergens for standardized pediatric patch testing series.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 1966 and 2010.
  • Inclusion criteria: studies investigating allergens in at least 100 children.
  • Random effects models were used to combine proportions of positive reactions across studies.

Main Results:

  • 49 studies with data on 170 allergens were included.
  • 58 allergens showed positive reaction estimates of at least 1% in children.
  • Nickel sulfate, ammonium persulfate, gold sodium thiosulfate, thimerosal, and toluene-2,5-diamine were among the most frequent allergens.
  • Increased allergen positivity was observed in studies published after 1995.

Conclusions:

  • This meta-analysis provides evidence-based guidance on prevalent allergens in pediatric allergic contact dermatitis.
  • Findings support the prioritization of specific allergens for inclusion in standardized pediatric testing series.
  • The study highlights the evolving landscape of pediatric allergen sensitization over time.
Abstract

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