Patterns of food and aeroallergen sensitization in childhood eczema.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the patterns of Type 1 sensitization of common food and aeroallergens among infants and older patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).


METHODS
All skin prick tests (SPTs) performed over a 6-month period were examined, and patients with urticaria were used for comparison.


RESULTS
Dust mite was the most common aeroallergen and dog dander the least common. Egg white was the most common food allergen and beef the least common. Dust mite and peanut sensitization was more prevalent in AD than in urticaria. Dust mite sensitization was more prevalent in older children than infants with AD. Cow's milk sensitization only occurred in one-tenth of these patients. Prevalence of sensitization to common aeroallergens, but not food allergens, was generally higher in children beyond 5 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Milk sensitization is far less prevalent than egg white, and the prevalence does not change beyond infancy. There is no significant change in prevalence in many of the common food allergens beyond infancy. Many infants with AD develop eczema before they show atopy to the common food and aeroallergens. The SPT information is useful in reassuring parents of the unlikelihood of severe Type 1 immediate IgE reaction to some of the common food and aeroallergens, so that empirical and multiple food avoidance/restriction can be avoided.
Hon
Kam-Lun Ellis
KL
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. ehon@cuhk.edu.hk
Leung
Ting-Fan
TF
Ching
Gary
G
Chow
Chung-Mo
CM
Luk
Vivianne
V
Ko
Wai-San Fanny
WS
Ng
Pak-Cheung
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012882:Skin Tests; D014581:Urticaria / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens