title: Contact sensitization in very young children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic contact dermatitis is an increasingly recognized clinical problem in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate contact sensitization in patients younger than 3 years of age with suspected contact dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 6-year period (2002-2008), 321 children underwent routine patch testing with a screening pediatric standard series of 30 allergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred children (62.3%; 102 girls and 98 boys aged 3-36 months [mean age 27 + 5.6 months]) developed at least one positive reaction. The most frequent reactions were to nickel sulfate (26.8%), followed by potassium dichromate (9%), cocamidopropylbetaine (7.2%), cobalt chloride (6.2%), neomycin sulfate (5%), and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (4.4%). The prevalence of contact sensitization was similar in children with (61.3%) and without (63%) atopic dermatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of contact sensitization in children younger than 3 years of age was not compared with the prevalence in older children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of contact sensitization was found in preschool children, even younger than 3 years of age. Patch testing should be considered in this age group when persistent dermatitis does not respond to conventional treatment.
authors: Dermatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Padova, Padua, Italy. Electronic address: belloni@pediatria.unipd.it.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Belloni Fortina
authors: Dermatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Romano
authors: Dermatology Unit, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Peserico
authors: Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, California.
authors: Lawrence F
authors: LF
authors: Eichenfield