Allergic contact dermatitis in children

Abstract

Introduction: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is equally as likely in infancy as in adulthood, and represents 20% of all cases of dermatitis in children. Its true prevalence and incidence are, however, unknown.

Materials and methods: We have conducted a retrospective study over 10 years of a group of patients aged 15 years or less, with clinical suspicion of ACD. Patch tests were performed in accordance with the standards of the GEIDC.

Results: The study covered 96 patients with a mean age of 10.57+/-0.67 years. The zones most frequently affected by eczemas were those of diffuse distribution (28% of patients) and of the hands (27%). We found at least one positive response in 52% of the cases. The most frequent allergens were thiomersal (21%), mercury (19%) and nickel (18%). We have found a statistically significant association between age of less than 15 years and positive response to thiomersal [P<0.01; OR: 8.5 with confidence interval (CI) 95%: 5.08<odds ratio (OR)<14.20] and mercury (P<0.01; OR: 4.38 with CI 95%: 3.02<OR<6.33).

Conclusions: With increasing age, nickel takes the place of the mercurials as the principal allergen.