Contact allergy in Danish children: Current trends

Area of Science:

• Pediatric dermatology
• Allergology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Contact allergy is prevalent in children but often underdiagnosed.
• Monitoring trends in pediatric contact allergies is crucial due to evolving clinical relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis among Danish children.
• To compare current patch testing data with historical trends in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patch test data from the Danish National Database of Contact Allergy.
• Comparison of data from 2012-2016 with previously published findings.

Main Results:

• 1573 children and adolescents underwent patch testing between 2012 and 2016.
• 24.5% of patients showed at least one positive patch test reaction.
• Significant increases in fragrance and isothiazolinone allergies were observed, while nickel allergy prevalence decreased.

Conclusions:

• Allergic contact dermatitis remains a significant health issue in children.
• Certain allergens, such as fragrances and isothiazolinones, show increasing prevalence in pediatric contact allergies.