A Retrospective Study of Pediatric Allergic Contact Dermatitis from 2017-2022

ObjectivesAllergic contact dermatitis occurs frequently in children. The proportion of children of color in the US is increasing, and racial and ethnic minority representation is important in pediatric allergic contact dermatitis research. The objectives of our study were to identify differences in age, sex, race and ethnicity among pediatric patch tests obtained from 2017 to 2022.MethodsA total of 792 pediatric patients were evaluated, and patch test differences were analyzed among age, sex, race and ethnicity groups.ResultsChildren in the age group 0-5 years had the highest number of positive reactions, and propolis was the most frequent allergen among females and in children in the age groups 6-11 years and 12-18 years. Carmine was the most frequent allergen among males and among children in the age group 1-5 years. Risk of sensitivity to multiple allergens varied with race and ethnicity.ConclusionsThe risk of patch test positivity to multiple allergens varied within the demographic groups evaluated. The etiology of these differences is likely multi-factorial and includes differences in exposure patterns and disparities in access.