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Published on: March 24, 2023
A Retrospective Study of Pediatric Allergic Contact Dermatitis from 2017-2022
Jessica N Pixley1, Christina Kontzias2, Rachel E Tao2
1Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 4618 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, NC, 27104, USA. pixleyjn@gmail.com.
Insights
Patch testing in children reveals varied allergen sensitivities across age, sex, and racial groups. Propolis and carmine were common allergens, with risks of multiple sensitivities differing by race and ethnicity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Allergology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is common in children.
- Increasing diversity in the US pediatric population necessitates research reflecting this demographic.
- Understanding racial and ethnic variations in pediatric ACD is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze demographic differences in pediatric patch testing.
- To identify variations in age, sex, race, and ethnicity among children undergoing patch tests.
- To investigate allergen prevalence across diverse pediatric groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 792 pediatric patients' patch test data from 2017-2022.
- Comparison of patch test results stratified by age, sex, race, and ethnicity.
- Statistical analysis to identify significant differences and trends.
Main Results:
- Children aged 0-5 years showed the highest rate of positive patch test reactions.
- Propolis was the most common allergen in females and older children (6-18 years).
- Carmine was the most frequent allergen in males and younger children (1-5 years).
- Risk of sensitization to multiple allergens differed significantly across racial and ethnic groups.
Conclusions:
- Patch test positivity and multiple allergen sensitivities vary by demographic factors in children.
- Disparities in allergen exposure patterns and healthcare access likely contribute to observed differences.
- Further research is needed to address multifactorial etiologies of these variations.
Objectives:
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs frequently in children. The proportion of children of color in the US is increasing, and racial and ethnic minority representation is important in pediatric allergic contact dermatitis research. The objectives of our study were to identify differences in age, sex, race and ethnicity among pediatric patch tests obtained from 2017 to 2022.
Methods:
A total of 792 pediatric patients were evaluated, and patch test differences were analyzed among age, sex, race and ethnicity groups.
Results:
Children in the age group 0-5 years had the highest number of positive reactions, and propolis was the most frequent allergen among females and in children in the age groups 6-11 years and 12-18 years. Carmine was the most frequent allergen among males and among children in the age group 1-5 years. Risk of sensitivity to multiple allergens varied with race and ethnicity.
Conclusions:
The risk of patch test positivity to multiple allergens varied within the demographic groups evaluated. The etiology of these differences is likely multi-factorial and includes differences in exposure patterns and disparities in access.
