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The decision when to rechallenge egg-allergic children should encounter the course of specific IgE.

Little evidence is available on the prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in pediatric populations. The objective of this study was to assess the cumulative prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis, asthma and eczema in a secondary pediatric outpatient clinic. Children aged 5-15 yr referred during the period of 2002-2004 in whom allergic conjunctivitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis or eczema was diagnosed were included in a retrospective survey. At referral patient characteristics, history, symptoms, signs and results of type 1 allergy tests were entered into an electronic form. Four hundred and fifty-eight children with a mean age of 9.4 yr were studied. Of 316, 324 and 149 children with rhinitis, asthma or eczema, respectively, 133 (42%), 78 (24%) and 45 (30%) had concomitant allergic conjunctivitis. One hundred and thirty-seven (30%) had allergic conjunctivitis, of whom 133 (97%) also had allergic rhinitis, 77 (56%) asthma and 45 (33%) eczema. One hundred and twenty-five (91%) of the children with allergic conjunctivitis had positive allergy tests to one or more allergens, sensitization to house dust mites being more frequent in chronic allergic conjunctivitis than in acute allergic conjunctivitis (95% vs. 53%; p < 0.01). Sensitization to grass was more frequent in children with acute allergic conjunctivitis (78% vs. 57%; p = 0.03). In a secondary pediatric outpatient clinic allergic conjunctivitis is a frequent co-morbidity to allergic rhinitis and to asthma and eczema. Allergic conjunctivitis need to be included as an important co-morbidity in future guidelines on asthma, rhinitis and eczema management.

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Skin prick tests were performed in 12 children with atopic eczema before and after 2 weeks of treatment with topical mometasone furoate and tacrolimus. Both treatments significantly suppressed the allergen wheal size. Mometasone furoate reduced the histamine wheal size as well. Skin prick testing in children treated with topical glucocorticoids or tacrolimus is associated with a risk of false-negative test results.

To determine the prevalence of allergic sensitization in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and to provide an overview of published studies on this topic. We systematically searched 11 literature databases on 24 May 2021, for studies with cross‐sectional data on the prevalence of positive allergy tests in patients with VKC. Our main outcome of interest was the prevalence of allergic sensitization and the allergens involved. Prevalence meta‐analyses were made to provide summary estimates. We identified 33 eligible studies for qualitative review with 2122 patients with VKC. Studies were predominantly based on patients seen in ophthalmology clinics. Overall, studies reported that the most prevalent positive allergen tests were the inhaled allergens house dust mites and pollen. Twenty‐nine studies were eligible for the quantitative analysis. Here, we calculated the prevalence of allergen‐positive patients to 57.7% (95% confidence interval: 52.5%–62.8%). Subgroup analyses of pooled estimates on sensitization based on specific testing methods found prevalence estimates of 51.4% for conjunctival provocation test, 68.7% for total tear IgE, 58.9% for specific tear IgE, and 58.2% for skin prick test. The prevalence of allergic sensitization in patients with VKC is 57.7%, and mostly towards inhaled allergens. The most frequent positive allergens are house dust mites and pollen. Identifying possible clinically relevant allergens provide information that may aid in managing VKC, such as environmental allergy‐avoidance or allergy‐specific treatment.

ObjectivesTo examine if a 5-day challenge with penicillin improves the diagnostic sensitivity compared with a single full dose in children with mild skin reactions.DesignSubjects referred with suspected allergy to penicillin were consecutively included. Irrespectively of the morphology of the index reaction and the result of specific IgE, all subjects underwent a two-step titrated drug provocation test (DPT) with the culprit drug followed by a 5-day challenge at home.ParticipantsChildren and adolescents aged 0–18 years referred to allergic workup for penicillin hypersensitivity at two paediatric Danish centres. Only subjects with non-severe skin reactions were included.ResultsA total of 305 subjects were included and 22 (7%) of the DPTs were positive. Three subjects reacted within 1 hour of the first full dose and nine reacted 1–8 hours after the first full dose. Additional 10 positive reactions were observed during the prolonged provocation. Seven subjects reacted after the second full dose and three reacted after 3–6 days. Only mild skin rashes were observed. Eighteen subjects had a specific IgE to a penicillin >0.1 kU/L. Only one of these had a positive DPT.ConclusionIn children, a DPT with penicillins should include at least two full doses. In children with mild hypersensitivity reactions it may be safe to perform DPTs despite a low specific IgE.Trial registration numberNCT04331522