Patch-test results in children and adolescents: systematic review of a 15-year period.

The number of studies on patch-test results in children and adolescents has gradually increased in recent years, thus stimulating reviews. This paper is a systematic review of a 15-year period devoted to studying the issue. Variations pertaining to the number and age groups of tested children and/or adolescents, the number of subjects with atopy/atopic dermatitis history, the quantity, type and concentrations of the tested substances, the test technique and type of data regarding clinical relevance, must all be considered in evaluating these studies, as they make it harder to formulate conclusions.

Patch test results in children and adolescents. Study from the Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte Dermatology Clinic, Brazil, from 2003 to 2010.

Background: Patch testing is an efficient method to identify the allergen responsible for allergic contact dermatitis.

Objective: To evaluate the results of patch tests in children and adolescents comparing these two age groups' results.

Methods: Cross-sectional study to assess patch test results of 125 children and adolescents aged 1-19 years, with suspected allergic contact dermatitis, in a dermatology clinic in Brazil.

Results of patch-tests from Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte Dermatology Clinic, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, from 2003 to 2010.

This Dermatology Clinic tests referred patients who have suspected allergic contact dermatitis. The patch-test results (1406 patients) from July 1(st), 2003 to June 30(th), 2010 will be reported and compared to the data from the Brazilian Contact Dermatitis Study Group (GBEDC). A standardized patch test (30 allergens) was used in all of these patients.