Variability in Paediatric Patch Test Practices Across Europe: A Survey From the European Baseline Series (EBS) Working Party on Behalf of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD)

Aerts O, Rustemeyer T, Belloni-Fortina A, Badulici S, Dickel H, Garcia Abujeta JL, Giménez-Arnau AM, Gonçalo M, Holden CR, Isaksson M, Latheef F, Ljubojevic Hadzavdic S, Mahler V, Özkaya E, Ponyai G, Pustišek N, Schuttelaar ML, Schwensen J, Spiewak R, Stingeni L, Svedman C, Uter W, White JM, Wilkinson M, Simonsen AB, Duus Johansen J (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

DOI: 10.1111/cod.14824

Abstract

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an increasingly recognised condition in children and adolescents. However, there is limited knowledge about the different paediatric patch test procedures in European patch test clinics. Objectives: To map current European paediatric patch test practices, and to relate these to the existing literature, with the aim of guiding the development of a future paediatric patch test guideline, and a corresponding paediatric European baseline series (pEBS). Materials and Methods: In the course of late 2023/early 2024, a standardised paediatric patch test e-mail questionnaire was developed, distributed, and discussed among members of the European Baseline Series (EBS) Working Party of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD). Results: Areas of agreement and discussion were identified regarding patch testing in children of different ages, with and without atopic dermatitis: (contra)indications, choice of allergens and patch test chambers, peculiarities regarding the application and fixation of tests, occlusion and reading times. Conclusion: Although variability exists in paediatric patch test practices across Europe, there is broad agreement on common procedures, and only a few areas of debate; these findings may be used to inform the development of a future paediatric patch test guideline and pEBS.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Hospital Network Antwerp / Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen (ZNA) Belgium (BE) University of Amsterdam Netherlands (NL) University of Padua / Universita degli Studi di Padova Italy (IT) Katholisches Klinikum Bochum (St. Josef- und St. Elisabeth-Hospital gGmbH) Germany (DE) Hospital Marina Baixa Spain (ES) Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) Spain (ES) Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC) Portugal (PT) Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust United Kingdom (GB) Lund University / Lunds universitet Sweden (SE) Chapel Allerton Hospital United Kingdom (GB) Zagreb University Hospital Centre / Klinički bolnički centar Zagreb (KBC) Croatia (HR) Paul Ehrlich Institute / Paul-Ehrlich-Institut – Bundesinstitut für Impfstoffe und biomedizinische Arzneimittel (PEI) Germany (DE) Istanbul University / İstanbul Üniversitesi Turkey (TR) Semmelweis University / Semmelweis Egyetem Hungary (HU) Children's Hospital Zagreb / Klinika za dječje bolesti Zagreb Croatia (HR) University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) / Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen Netherlands (NL) Gentofte Hospital Denmark (DK) Jagiellonian University Medical College Poland (PL) Università degli Studi di Perugia Italy (IT) Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) / Free University of Brussels Belgium (BE)

How to cite

APA:

Aerts, O., Rustemeyer, T., Belloni-Fortina, A., Badulici, S., Dickel, H., Garcia Abujeta, J.L.,... Duus Johansen, J. (2025). Variability in Paediatric Patch Test Practices Across Europe: A Survey From the European Baseline Series (EBS) Working Party on Behalf of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD). Contact Dermatitis. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.14824

MLA:

Aerts, Olivier, et al. "Variability in Paediatric Patch Test Practices Across Europe: A Survey From the European Baseline Series (EBS) Working Party on Behalf of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD)." Contact Dermatitis (2025).

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