An evaluation of the diagnostic value of different skin tests with egg in clinically egg-allergic children having atopic dermatitis

Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004 Oct;15(5):428-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2004.00193.x.

Abstract

Skin testing is a common diagnostic procedure in food allergy, but the final diagnosis of food allergy is based on the clinical response to food challenge. We studied the value of the skin prick-prick test (SPT), skin application food test (SAFT) and atopy patch test (APT) with fresh egg extract in diagnosing egg allergy. Ten clinically egg-allergic children with atopic dermatitis (AD; age 10 months to 8.4 yr, mean 3.4 yr) and 10 egg-tolerant children with and 10 without AD (age 2.4-11 yr, mean 5.5 yr) participated. In SAFT several false-negative reactions were seen, whereas all clinically egg-allergic children were positive in SPT and 40-60% in APT. In APT and in SPT false-positive reactions to egg were observed. In this study comprising a small number of patients including control subjects, neither SAFT nor APT with fresh whole egg extract were able to increase the diagnostic accuracy in detecting egg-allergic children with AD compared with SPT.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / complications*
  • Egg Hypersensitivity / complications
  • Egg Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Eggs / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin Tests* / adverse effects
  • Skin Tests* / methods