Evaluation of contact sensitivity to food additives in children with atopic dermatitis.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the complex interaction of genetic, immune and environmental factors such as food and airborne allergens. The atopy patch test (APT) is a useful way to determine delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to food and aeroallergens. Many studies have also suggested that food additives are associated with dermatologic adverse reactions and the aggravation of pre-existing atopic dermatitis symptoms.

Aim: To elucidate the contact sensitivity to food additives in children suffering from AD by using standardized atopy patch testing.

Material and methods: A total of 45 children with AD and 20 healthy children have been enrolled. All the children have regularly consumed food containing additives, and were subjected to atopy patch tests.

Results: In total, 28 (62%) children with AD and 4 (20%) healthy children have had positive patch test reactions to ≥ 1 allergens. There has been a significant difference ( p = 0.04) between the groups in terms of the positivity rate in the patch test and the most common allergen that elicited positive patch test results in the AD group was azorubine ( n = 11, 24.4%, p = 0.014).

Conclusions: In our study, contact sensitivity was detected more frequently in AD patients. Food additives may play a role in the development and exacerbation of AD. Atopy patch testing with food additives can be useful in the treatment and follow-up of children with AD.