Contact sensitivity in adults with atopic dermatitis in childhood.

2 groups of patients were patch tested with a standard series of allergens. 1 group of 159 individuals aged 24-44 years had a history of severe atopic dermatitis, and the other group of 130 individuals in the same age range, had had moderate atopic dermatitis in childhood. In group 1, positive reactions were recorded in 17% and in group 2 in 23%. A significant difference in the % of individuals with positive reactions was found between those who had healed (9%) and those who had not healed (22%) before 15 years of age (P less than 0.05). The frequency of individuals with hand eczema in adult life was higher, but not significantly, among sensitized than non-sensitized individuals. Altogether 100 positive reactions were found in groups 1 and 2. The average number of positive reactions per person was significantly higher in individuals with than without hand eczema in adult life (P less than 0.05). The most frequent contact allergens were fragrance-mix, balsam of Peru and nickel, which had sensitized 8.0%, 4.5% and 4.1% of the individuals, respectively.