[Contact dermatitis in children].

After reviewing the frequency differences between the two great eczema varieties in child, in which atopic eczema develops in early childhood and contact dermatitis at age six, this work includes a total of 37 cases of atopic dermatitis observed within a period of three years in a "Pediatric Dermatology Service". Orto-ergic dermatitis (10 cases): Predominance in small children. Provoked by irritating drugs, hygiene products and synthetic clothing. Allergic dermatitis (27 cases): Most frequent at age six. Due to various sensitizing agents, drugs, sulphamids, antibiotics, phenotiazins, clothing, detergent and wild plants. There was a total of 27 cases of atopic dermatitis, divided in two groups in order to facilitate the diagnosis with patch tests. The first group included a total of 12 positives; the most common allergens were plastic materials, drugs, paraphenilendiamine and wild plants. Most of the group corresponded to drug induced dermatitis. A total of 15 cases were considered in the second group yielding doubtful results. In this group and causative agents most commonly involved were drugs and clothing (mainly shoewear).