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peterb
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« on: Tuesday February 18, 2003, 10:30:42 AM » |
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Patch testing vs skin prick testing for food allergy
(Tuesday, 18th February 2003)
Patch testing may be a more sensitive method (REF: Acta Paediatr)
Patch testing is more sensitive than skin prick testing for diagnosing food allergy in young children with atopic eczema or dermatitis, according to research published in Acta Paediatrica.
The study involved 141 children (mean age 16 months) with atopic eczema or dermatitis. The children were given skin prick tests and patch tests for milk, egg, wheat, and rye.
The study showed:
A positive challenge response was found to milk in 45% of children, to egg in 55% of children, to wheat in 43% of children, and to rye in 43% of children
The sensitivity and specificity of the patch test were 60% and 97% for milk, 71% and 97% for egg, 90% and 94% for wheat, and 93% and 90% for rye
The sensitivity and specificity of the skin prick test were 41% and 99% for milk, 60% and 97% for egg, 13% and 98% for wheat, and 15% and 99% for rye.
The researchers concluded that many children who have a negative response to skin prick tests could have a positive result to patch testing, especially for cereals. They added that a diagnosis of food allergy should be confirmed by elimination.
REF: Strömberg L. Diagnostic accuracy of the atopy patch test and the skin-prick test for the diagnosis of food allergy in young children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome. Acta Paediatr 2002; 91: 1044-1049
Acta Paediatrica website
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Additional search terms: sensitisation allergic
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