Skin Rashes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Rashes, including details on dermatitis, itches, creams, medication, treatment.

Patch testing with egg represents a useful integration to diagnosis of egg allergy in children with atopic dermatitis.

Giusti F, Seidenari S

Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Our aim was to investigate atopy patch and skin prick test reactions to egg in 85 children with atopic dermatitis, and to evaluate their relevance by performing repeated open challenges with egg. Thirty-one percent of our patients showed an eczematous response to the challenge. Positive reactions to atopy patch and skin prick tests were recorded in 37% and 19%, respectively. Atopy patch test sensitivity proved significantly higher than that of skin prick test (79.6% vs. 46.2%), whereas specificity was lower (81.4% vs. 93.2%). Our data suggest that combined skin prick and patch testing improves screening for egg allergy in affected children, identifying 92% of those who were challenge positive among our patients.

Published 4 April 2005 in Pediatr Dermatol, 22(2): 109-11.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Skin Rashes Research Today. All Rights Reserved.