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Pediatric contact allergy: A comparative study with adults
Waranya Boonchai1, Chayada Chaiyabutr1, Norramon Charoenpipatsin1
1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Pediatric allergic contact dermatitis reactions are less common in children than adults, with similar top allergens. This suggests a unified baseline patch test series may be suitable for both age groups in Thailand.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Pediatric allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) incidence is rising globally.
- Current pediatric patch test allergen series differ internationally.
- Clarifying worldwide prevalence of pediatric allergic reactions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine contact allergy prevalence in Thai children via patch testing.
- Identify common allergens and associated factors in pediatric patients.
- Compare pediatric findings with adult patch test results.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of baseline series patch test results (2010-2019) for pediatric patients (<18 years).
- Comparison with a control group of randomly selected, sex-matched adult patients.
- Statistical comparison of allergy prevalence and allergen profiles between pediatric and adult cohorts.
Main Results:
- 35.5% of 112 pediatric patients showed positive patch test reactions, lower than 56.6% in adults.
- Top pediatric allergens: nickel sulfate, potassium dichromate, methylisothiazolinone, fragrance mix II, carba mix.
- Cosmetic allergen reactions were less frequent in children; top 10 allergens largely overlapped between groups.
Conclusions:
- Positive patch test reactions are less prevalent in children compared to adults.
- Pediatric and adult causative allergens are nearly identical, despite differing prevalence.
- Recommends utilizing a consistent baseline patch test series for both children and adults in the region.
Background:
Pediatric allergic contact dermatitis is increasing. The patch test allergens included in pediatric baseline series vary globally. The worldwide prevalence of pediatric reactions to allergens needs clarification.
Objectives:
Identify the prevalence, associated factors, and culprit allergens for contact allergy among patch-tested Thai children, and compare with those for adults.
Methods:
Baseline series patch test results from 2010-2019 were collected for patients younger than 18 years of age. As a control group, sex-matched adult patients were randomly selected. The results and characteristics of the two groups were compared.
Results:
The median age of 112 patch tested pediatric patients was 16 (range 2-17) years. Of the children, 35.5% had at least one positive reaction, significantly less than the 56.6% for adults. The five most common pediatric allergens were nickel sulfate (12.1%), potassium dichromate (8.0%), methylisothiazolinone (7.1%), fragrance mix II (6.0%), and carba mix (5.4%). Although similar, the 10 most common allergens of the groups differed in order. Positive reactions to cosmetic allergens were significantly less frequent among the children. Many allergens remained entirely negative.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of positive reactions was lower in children, varying by population and region. The top-10 pediatric and adult causative allergens were almost identical. We recommend using the same baseline patch test series for children and adults in our region.
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