EVOLUTION OF CONTACT-DERMATITIS IN CHILDHOOD - CROSS-SECTIONAL EVALUATION OF 152 CHILDREN

The objective of this study was to assess the importance of contact de rmatitis in children with or without atopic dermatitis. A cross-sectio nal analysis was later developed to assess the history and progression of sensitisation in childhood. One hundred and fifty two children wer e enrolled in this study and a cross-sectional analysis was carried ou t in order to compare the involvement of specific allergens according to age. The patients were classified into 4 groups: I - 3 months to 3 years; II - 4 to 7 years; III - 7 to 10 years; IV - 10 to 18. Thirty f ive percent of the children were atopic and 55% of these proved to be reactive to patch tests. Nickel and perfume where the main allergens a nd children of group I and II. were proportionally more affected than older groups (56% and 43% in groups I and II; 28% in groups III and IV ). The data suggest that nickel and perfume react through irritation r ather than allergy in children. These allergens are highly likely to i nduce irritant dermatitis in infants and favour secondary allergic der matitis in older children. Therefore, atopic children deserve special attention considering their natural skin irritability.