Delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction in normal children

The delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction was assessed in normal children using candida, PPD and sterptokinase/streptodornase antigens. There was an increase in reactivity from 20 percent in children under three years to 90 percent in the 12--16 age group which approximates adult levels. The conclusion is that this test of cell-mediated immunity is unsatisfactory in young children.