Related Experiment Videos
Delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction in normal children
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|July 26, 1978
Summary
Cell-mediated immunity tests using common antigens are unreliable in children under three. Reactivity increases with age, reaching adult levels by 12-16 years, indicating test limitations in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Cell-Mediated Immunity
Background:
- Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin tests assess cell-mediated immunity.
- Assessing DTH reactions is crucial for evaluating immune competence in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of DTH skin tests in normal children across different age groups.
- To determine the age-related changes in DTH reactivity in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Normal children were tested for delayed skin hypersensitivity.
- Antigens used included Candida, purified protein derivative (PPD), and streptokinase/streptodornase.
- Reactivity was assessed based on induration size at specific time points.
Main Results:
- DTH reactivity was low in children under three years (20%).
- Reactivity significantly increased in older children, reaching approximately 90% in the 12-16 year age group.
- The observed reactivity pattern approximated adult immune responses in older children.
Conclusions:
- Standard DTH skin tests are considered unsatisfactory for assessing cell-mediated immunity in young children.
- Age-dependent variations in DTH responses highlight the need for age-specific interpretation or alternative immune assessment methods in pediatric populations.