OCCURRENCE AND CLINICAL-FEATURES OF SENSITIZATION TO PITYROSPORUM ORBICULARE AND OTHER ALLERGENS IN CHILDREN WITH ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

One hundred and nineteen consecutive cases of children with atopic der matitis aged 4-16 years (73 girls) from a pediatric dermatology outpat ient clinic were included in a study of atopic sensitization. Structur ed interviews and clinical investigations were performed. IgE antibodi es to common inhalant allergens, Pityrosporum orbiculare, Candida albi cans, Tricophyton rubrum and Staphylococcus aureus were detected. Spec ific IgE antibodies frequently occurred to pollens, animal epithelia, C. albicans, house dust mites and moulds, whereas specific IgE antibod ies to potential skin allergens were less prevalent. Twenty-six childr en (21.8%) had IgE antibodies to P. orbiculare, 14 (11.8%) to T. rubru m and 3 (2.5%) to S. aureus. Atopic dermatitis in children with one or several RAST positivities was worse, with a more chronic course, high er total eczema score, more frequent distribution in the head-neck-fac e region and more itch compared to the children without serum detectab le IgE antibodies, Severe itch disturbing nightly sleep was the only c linical feature that characterised P. orbiculare-positive cases. Aller gy to P. orbiculare appears to be of little importance in early childh ood atopic dermatitis but is likely to carry a poor prognosis.