Contact dermatitis in children: 6 years experience (1992-1997)

We report the results of patch tests carried out over the last 6 years (1992-1997) on 141 children. This corresponds to 2.8% of the total patients who were patch tested in our Allergy Department (5,014). These 141 children were patch tested using the TRUE Test(TM) standard series and an additional allergen, metallic mercury. Allergens from the Chemotechnique medicaments, cosmetics, plants and shoe series were added in some. The most frequent localization of eczema was to the feet, face and hands and the most frequent suspected causes were costume jewellery, footwear, topical medicaments and cosmetics. The most frequent allergens, assessed by degree of relevance, were first, nickel, followed by cobalt, mercurials (thimerosal and metallic mercury), fragrance and rubber chemicals (naphthyl mix, mercapto mix, carba mix and PPD mix). 13 children, 18% of the total, between the ages of 13 and 14 years, showed positivities relevant to some occupation, i.e., metalworking, building, hairdressing, catering, etc. Once patch tests had been carried out and relevant positive patch tests assessed, the most frequent diagnoses were contact dermatitis 45%, atopic dermatitis 25%, juvenile plantar dermatitis 15%, and other diagnoses in the remaining 15%.