Dermatológia pre prax 2/2007

FOOD ATOPY PATCH TESTS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF FOOD ALLERGY IN CHILDREN WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Atopy patch test (APT) has developed into valuable diagnostic tool in the management of food allergy. To the most common clinical symptoms of food allergy belongs also the involvement of skin. About 40 % children with atopic dermatitis has clinically relevant food allergy. Macro- and microscopic similarities between APT reaction sites and skin changes in atopic dermatitis show that APT is suitable diagnostic tool for diagnosis of causal allergen in this disease. While in children the most common are food allergens, in adults dominate inhalant allergens (aeroallergens).

Keywords: atopic dermatitis, atopy patch test, food allergy, diagnosis