EAACI position paper for practical patch testing in allergic contact dermatitis in children.

Introduction: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in children appears to be on the increase, and contact sensitization may already begin in infancy. The diagnosis of contact dermatitis requires a careful evaluation of a patient's clinical history, physical examination, and skin testing. Patch testing is the gold standard diagnostic test.

Recent developments in the management of common childhood skin infections.

A literature review and clinical commentary on diagnosis and treatment of common childhood bacterial, fungal and viral skin infections is presented including impetigo, folliculitis, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, tinea capitis, warts and molluscum contagiosum.

Correlation between Objective SCORAD and Three-Item Severity Score used by physicians and Objective PO-SCORAD used by parents/patients in children with atopic dermatitis.

Background: A self-assessment rating scale (SAS) is a good tool to assess the fluctuating disease severity and quality of life (QoL) in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). The European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis created an SAS based on the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, called the Patient-Oriented SCORAD (PO-SCORAD).

Objective: The aim of our study was to measure the correlation between alternative systems such as the OBJECTIVE SCORAD, the Three-Item Severity (TIS) score and the OBJECTIVE PO-SCORAD.

The proactive wet-wrap method with diluted corticosteroids versus emollients in children with atopic dermatitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Wet-wrap treatment (WWT) has been advocated as a relatively effective treatment in children with severe atopic dermatitis (AD). WWT often serves as crisis intervention for AD.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the use of WWT with diluted corticosteroids in comparison with emollient in children with severe AD during 4 weeks in a proactive schedule during which the frequency of corticosteroid applications was tapered.

Allergic contact dermatitis in children: which factors are relevant? (review of the literature).

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in children is increasing. Sensitization to contact allergens can start in early infancy. The epidermal barrier is crucial for the development of sensitization and elicitation of ACD.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-blocking agents in juvenile psoriatic arthritis: are they effective?

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers in juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA).

Methods: The study was a prospective ongoing multicentre, observational study of all Dutch juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients using biologicals. The response of arthritis was assessed by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) paediatric response and Wallace inactive disease criteria.

Imatinib mesylate for children with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant soft tissue tumor in children. DFSP is characterized by a specific fusion of the platelet-derived growth factor beta (PDGFbeta) with the collagen type 1alpha1 (COL1alpha1) gene which renders these tumors responsive to targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib mesylate, as is reported in adults. In the current report, we describe the first small pediatric DFSP series, in which response to imatinib mesylate contributed to successful treatment outcome.

Patch tests in children with suspected allergic contact dermatitis: a prospective study and review of the literature.

Aims: The results of patch testing in children visiting our out-patient clinic with suspected allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) were prospectively investigated and compared with those reported in the literature. A review of the literature on patch testing and ACD in children is provided.

Methods: Children were patch tested using the TRUE test, supplemented with tixocortol-17-pivalate, budesonide and 3 commonly used emollients.

Efficacy of 25% diluted fluticasone propionate 0.05% cream as wet-wrap treatment in cutaneous mastocytosis.

Background: Mastocytosis is a disorder that can be subdivided into two forms: cutaneous and systemic. Patients with cutaneous mastocytosis only may suffer from cosmetic problems. Topical steroid application has been shown to be effective in cases of limited skin lesions.

Soluble E-selectin and soluble ICAM-1 levels as markers of the activity of atopic dermatitis in children.

The expression of adhesion molecules is up-regulated in the skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, and the levels of the soluble adhesion molecules sE-selectin and sICAM-1 have been reported to reflect the endothelial activation in the skin of AD patients. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between symptom score and levels of sE-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 before and after 2 weeks of treatment. Eighteen children with an exacerbation of AD were admitted and treated with corticosteroid dilutions under occlusive wet dressings (wet-wrap treatment).

Natural course of cow's milk allergy in childhood atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome.

Objective: This review was undertaken to determine the role of adverse reactions to bovine proteins in atopic dermatitis, recently called atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS).

Data Sources: A PubMed literature search was conducted with use of the following phrases: atopic dermatitis and food allergy, atopic dermatitis and cow's milk, and cow's milk and eczema.

Study Selection: The authors' judgment and personal interest guided the literature selection.

Atopic dermatitis: review 2000 to January 2001.

A review on atopic dermatitis is given, considering as basic information articles published over the period of February 1, 2000 to January 31, 2001. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory, primarily genetic-determined skin disease of which the cause is unknown. Its prevalence is rising in the industrialized countries, and no one knows why.