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Current Strategies in Treating Severe Contact Dermatitis in Pediatric Patients

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (JM Portnoy and CE Ciaccio, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis in children is underdiagnosed and undertreated, and its incidence is increasing. Appropriate history taking and the suspicion for allergic contact dermatitis is essential, and patch testing remains the gold standard in diagnosis. Avoidance of the offending allergen, once identified, is the first goal of treatment. Medical therapies include topical corticosteroid and topical immunomodulators. In severe cases, oral corticosteroids or immunomodulators are utilized, although prospective randomized trials for the treatment of this disease in children are lacking. A PubMed literature search was performed to identify publications on allergic contact dermatitis in the pediatric population with the keywords: dermatitis, children, allergic contact dermatitis, pediatrics, contact hypersensitivity, contact allergy, treatment, and management. This review will address the major principles behind the diagnosis and management of this disease in the pediatric population, and highlight useful strategies that may result in improved treatment of this condition.

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Disclosure

Dr. Fonacier has received grant support from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Baxter, and Genentech, and has received honoraria from Baxter.

Dr. Aquino has served as treasurer and as a board member for the Long Island Allergy and Asthma Society; has received grant support from Genentech, Roche, Novartis, and Dyax Corp.; and has received honoraria from the American College of Allergy and Immunology.

Dr. Mucci reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

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  1. Section of Allergy and Immunology, Winthrop University Hospital, 120 Mineola Boulevard, Suite 410, Mineola, NY, 11501, USA

    Luz S. Fonacier, Marcella R. Aquino & Tania Mucci

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  1. Luz S. Fonacier
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  2. Marcella R. Aquino
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  3. Tania Mucci
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Correspondence to Luz S. Fonacier.

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Fonacier, L.S., Aquino, M.R. & Mucci, T. Current Strategies in Treating Severe Contact Dermatitis in Pediatric Patients. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 12, 599–606 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-012-0305-0

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