Analysis of Hand, Face, and Body Contact Dermatitis in Children with Chemical Patch Tests

Abstract

Objective: Allergic contact dermatitis is a late-type (type IV) hypersensitivity reaction that occurs after re-exposure to substances that have been previously encountered and sensitized. 3700 chemicals that can cause this condition have been reported. There are publications in the literature that the hand and face are the body parts that are more frequently involved in contact dermatitis in adults. However, this study was aimed because there is not enough data about which region is affected more frequently in children and the examination of allergens according to the affected areas. Materials and Methods: In our study, 102 patients who applied to our outpatient clinic between January 2019 and June 2021, diagnosed with contact dermatitis and applied chemical patch test, were included and analyzed retrospectively. Results: Of the 102 patients included in the study, 43 (42.2%) were female and 59 (57.8%) were male. The ages of the patients were between 4-18 years and the mean age was 9.45±3.92 years. When the body areas with contact dermatitis are examined; hand involvement was present in 33 (32.4%), 7 (6.9%) hand and arm involvement, and 2 (2%) hand and face involvement. Facial involvement was present in 19 (18.6%) and 5 (4.9%) had both trunk and face involvement. Trunk involvement was detected in 36 patients (35.3%). Conclusion: When the sensitized ones with Myroxylon Pereiare Resin and Formaldehyde were evaluated according to the lesion localization, the difference between them was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Myroxylon Pereiare Resin was positive in 8 of 36 patients with trunk only contact dermatitis. Sensitization was observed in 5 of the 19 patients with facial involvement with formaldehyde. No significant difference was found between lesion localizations and positivity rates in other chemical parameters.