Contact sensitization in Dutch children and adolescents with and without atopic dermatitis – a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Sensitization prevalences in children with and without atopic dermatitis were similar, but children with atopic dermatitis reacted significantly more often to lanolin alcohol and fragrances. Testing with additional series besides the European baseline series may be necessary, as reactions to, for example, cocamidopropyl betaine and Amerchol L-101 may otherwise be missed.

Both children and adult patients with difficult‐to‐treat atopic dermatitis have high prevalences of concomitant allergic contact dermatitis and are frequently polysensitized

“…In the current study, we found a sensitization rate of 71% ( n = 24/34) in children and 86% ( n = 12/14) in adults amongst 48 difficult‐to‐treat AD patients. This prevalence in children is much higher than in the previously mentioned study by Lubbes et al 21. and exceeds the prevalence of 30% in AD children and adolescents reported by Simonsen et al 34.…”

“…The group composition of the population under study is dominated by children, with only a quarter of patients having reached adult age. A recent large study conducted in three University Hospitals in The Netherlands, including our centre, showed that 48% of children with AD who were tested based on clinical suspicion had one or more positive patch test reactions compared to 47% of children without AD 21. In the current study, we found a sensitization rate of 71% ( n = 24/34) in children and 86% ( n = 12/14) in adults amongst 48 difficult‐to‐treat AD patients.…”

“…As can be expected from frequent exposition to allergens in topical therapy, allergies to lanolin alcohols and antiseptics occur regularly within patients with AD 21, 24. Several specific allergic contact reactions are described to occur more often in AD children compared to healthy children.…”

“…Several specific allergic contact reactions are described to occur more often in AD children compared to healthy children. A large multicentre study in Dutch children showed that children with AD were significantly more often sensitized to fragrances and wool alcohols 21. Also, potassium dichromate, disperse blue 106 and compositae mix are frequent sensitizers 25.…”

European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA): results with the European baseline series, 2013/14

“…involving repeated open application or provocative use testing with lanolin alcohol‐containing products, to ascertain clinical relevance of a positive patch test reaction. Recently, it has been pointed out that in children and adolescents with atopic eczema, also the lanolin alcohol derivative Amerchol L101 (which has no own INCI name) commonly caused positive patch test reactions . Therefore, it may be worthwhile to further examine the most suitable patch test preparation.…”