Abstract
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) affects approximately 7% of the adult world population. The frequency of ACD in children and adolescents with a positive patch test to standard series is not negligible.
During last decade, reports have appeared on a series of children with contact allergy. 218 schoolchildren from Prague were patch tested with European standard series (27 allergens) during 2005-2006. The aim was to determinate the frequency of sensitisation to the 27 most common contact allergens. 67 children (30.7%) had one or more positive reaction.
The top allergens in children were nickel sulphate, neomycin sulphate, potassium dichromate, cobalt chloride, Myroxylon pereirae resin (balsam of Peru) and fragrance mix. The frequency of positive patch tests was analysed according to sex, age, atopy, and site of eczema.