Sole dermatitis in children: patch testing revisited.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dermatology
• Allergic Contact Dermatitis
• Patch Testing

Background:

• Dermatoses of the soles in children are common in clinics.
• The link between sole dermatoses and allergic contact dermatitis is not well-established.
• Juvenile plantar dermatosis (JPD) is a common condition affecting children's soles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic relevance of patch testing in children presenting with sole dermatoses.
• To identify common allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis on the soles in pediatric patients.
• To assess the utility of patch testing in children with inflammatory sole dermatitis and JPD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patch test results from children (<18 years) with sole dermatoses.
• Data collected from a departmental patch test database between 1997 and 2009.
• Analysis of 41 children: 27 with inflammatory sole dermatitis and 14 with JPD.

Main Results:

• 17 out of 41 children (41%) showed at least one clinically relevant positive patch test reaction.
• Rubber additives and potassium dichromate were the most frequent allergens identified.
• Relevant reactions were observed in 48% of children with inflammatory sole dermatitis and 29% with JPD.
• 76% of children with relevant reactions had a personal or family history of atopy.

Conclusions:

• Patch testing is important for children with sole dermatoses, including those with JPD or a history of atopy.
• Allergic contact dermatitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sole dermatoses in children.
• Identifying specific allergens like rubber additives and potassium dichromate can guide treatment.