Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026
Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Published on: September 26, 2022
Allergic contact reaction to antiseptics in very young children
A S Darrigade1, C Léauté-Labrèze1, F Boralevi1
1Department of Adult and Pediatric Dermatology, Bordeaux University Hospitals, Bordeaux, France.
Insights
Contact dermatitis from antiseptics is a concern in children, with chlorhexidine gluconate and benzalkonium chloride identified as common culprits. Early diagnosis is crucial, even in non-atopic infants, potentially linked to umbilical cord care practices.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Contact Dermatitis
Background:
- Topical antiseptic use can lead to contact dermatitis, primarily documented in adults.
- Rare instances of chlorhexidine contact dermatitis have been observed in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and evaluate allergic contact dermatitis caused by antiseptics in young children.
- To identify specific antiseptic agents responsible for allergic reactions in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Children, often misdiagnosed with conditions like cellulitis, underwent patch testing.
- Testing included the European baseline series, a specialized antiseptics series, and personal topical products.
Main Results:
- Fourteen children (mean age 38 months) were diagnosed with antiseptic contact dermatitis.
- Positive reactions were observed for chlorhexidine gluconate (7 cases) and benzalkonium chloride (8 cases); 4 had reactions to both.
- Only three children had a personal history of atopy.
Conclusions:
- Chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride are significant causes of contact dermatitis in children.
- Misdiagnosis, young age, and the allergenic potential in non-atopic children are key considerations.
- Systematic antiseptic use for umbilical cord care may contribute to newborn sensitization.
Background:
Contact dermatitis from topical antiseptic use has been reported mostly in adults, but rare cases of chlorhexidine contact dermatitis have also been described in young children.
Objective:
To evaluate contact allergic dermatitis to antiseptics in young children.
Methods:
The children mostly referred for a misdiagnose (cellulitis) were patch tested with a selection of the European baseline series, an antiseptics series and the personal topical products used.
Results:
Fourteen children (8 boys, 6 girls) received a diagnosis of contact dermatitis to antiseptics between May 2010 and December 2017. The mean age at diagnosis was 38 months (8 months to 8 years); three children only had a personal history of atopy. Chlorhexidine gluconate was positive in seven cases, and benzalkonium chloride in eight cases, and in four cases, both allergens were positive.
Conclusion:
These small case series confirm that both chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride are implicated in contact dermatitis from antiseptic use in the paediatric population. We emphasize the initial misdiagnose of these patients, the very young age of the children and the allergenic potential of common antiseptics in non-atopic children. We hypothesize that the systematic use of antiseptics for umbilical cord care could be responsible for the sensitization in newborns.
Related Concept Videos
02:06Allergic Reactions
01:27Allergic Drug Reactions
01:13Contact Angle
The adhesive force is the molecular force between molecules of different materials, that is, between the molecules of the solid and the liquid. The cohesive...
01:19Contact-dependent Signaling
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
03:06Reaction Mechanisms
For instance, the decomposition of ozone appears to follow a mechanism with two steps:
02:53Determining Order of Reaction