- Sharon E Jacob: aDepartment of Dermatology bDepartment of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA cDepartment of Dermatology, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, Scotland, UK.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Contact dermatitis is an economically burdensome pediatric disease, and it is important to know the top allergens that have remained as top offenders for over the last decade.
RECENT FINDINGS: A comparative analysis of the 20-allergen screen was done against the current top 40 pediatric allergens, and it revealed that the 20-allergen screening series would have theoretically only captured 47.5% of the relevant contact allergens (52.5% failure to detect rate). In addition, the T.R.U.E. Test (SmartPractice, Phoenix, Arizona, USA) would have revealed 60% of the top 40 allergens (40% failure to detect rate).
SUMMARY: Patch testing in children has become a more common practice, and management requires the identification and avoidance of the offending allergen from the sensitized person's environment.