COMPOSITAE SENSITIVITY AND CHRONIC HAND DERMATITIS IN A 7-YEAR-OLD BOY

Compositae dermatitis is rare in childhood, with few cases documented in the literature. We report a 7-year-old boy who presented with a der matitis mainly affecting his dominant hand, Patch testing revealed con tact sensitivity to sesquiterpene lactone (SL) mix, and subsequent tes ting with Compositae oleoresins showed sensitivity to daisy, dandelion and chrysanthemum. The dermatitis improved on avoidance of handling p lants, We have not documented any other cases of Compositae sensitivit y in 187 other children, aged under 16 years, who have undergone patch testing with SL mix between 1992 and 1996 in our department. This cas e illustrates that Compositae sensitivity may present with a localized dermatitis and that, although uncommon, sensitization may occur in ea rly childhood.