title: Is Patch Testing with Food Additives Useful in Children with Atopic Eczema?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopy patch testing is a useful way to determine delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to foods and aeroallergens. Although food additives have been accused of worsening atopic eczema symptoms, according to recent studies the role of food additives in atopic eczema remains unclear. The purpose of our study was to investigate food additive hypersensitivity in a group of children with atopic eczema by using standardized atopy patch testing and to determine the role of food additive hypersensitivity in atopic eczema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children with atopic eczema and 33 healthy children were enrolled in the study. Children who consumed foods containing additives and did not use either antihistamines or local or systemic corticosteroids for at least 7 days prior to admission were enrolled in the study. All children were subjected to atopy patch testing and after 48 and 72 hours their skin reactions were evaluated by using the guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive atopy patch test results were significantly higher in the atopic eczema group. Forty-one percent of the atopic eczema group (n = 14) and 15.2% (n = 5) of the control group had positive atopy patch test results with food additives (p = 0.036) (estimated relative risk 1.68, case odds 0.7, control odds 0.17). Carmine hypersensitivity and the consumption of foods containing carmine, such as gumdrops, salami, and sausage, were significantly higher in the children with atopic eczema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study investigating hypersensitivity to food additives in children with atopic eczema. Our results indicate that carmine may play a role in atopic eczema.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Research and Training Hospital of Women's and Children's Health and Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Gonul
authors: G
authors: Catli
authors: Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Dr. Sami Ulus Research and Training Hospital of Women's and Children's Health and Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ilknur
authors: I
authors: Bostanci
authors: Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Dr. Sami Ulus Research and Training Hospital of Women's and Children's Health and Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Serap
authors: S
authors: Ozmen
authors: Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Dr. Sami Ulus Research and Training Hospital of Women's and Children's Health and Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Emine
authors: E
authors: Dibek Misirlioglu
authors: Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Dr. Sami Ulus Research and Training Hospital of Women's and Children's Health and Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Handan
authors: H
authors: Duman
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Research and Training Hospital of Women's and Children's Health and Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ulker
authors: U
authors: Ertan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D005503:Food Additives