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.