ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Parents report that children with aluminium contact allergy and vaccination granulomas may react to aluminium-containing sunscreen following application. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether contact dermatitis develops following repeated application of aluminium-containing sunscreens in children with aluminium sensitization and vaccination granulomas. METHODS: Sixteen children aged 2-9 years (mean age 5 years) with vaccination granulomas and a positive patch test reaction to aluminium chloride hexahydrate 2%/10% petrolatum completed a blinded repeated open application test (ROAT) with two daily applications of two sunscreens for 14 days. One cream contained aluminium and the other did not. The children served as their own controls. RESULTS: Sixteen children completed the study. Only one child (6%) had a positive skin reaction during ROAT on day 2 to the sunscreen with aluminium. None reacted to the sunscreen without aluminium. CONCLUSIONS: Use of aluminium-containing sunscreens may on a case basis lead to allergic contact dermatitis in aluminium allergic children.
Subject(s)
Aluminum Chloride/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/diagnosis , Patch Tests/methods , Sunscreening Agents/adverse effects , Child , Child, Preschool , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aluminum contact allergy is mostly seen in children with vaccination granulomas, following immunization with aluminum-adsorbed childhood vaccines. OBJECTIVES: To characterize a cohort of children with vaccination granulomas and aluminum allergy concerning early life conditions, exacerbating factors, avoidance behavior, treatments, and potential impact on quality of life. METHODS: A questionnaire study was conducted among 177 children aged 0 to 15 years with vaccination granulomas and aluminum allergy, and a reference group of 61 children aged 3 to 14 years with various types of dermatitis undergoing patch testing. RESULTS: All children in the granuloma group were reportedly affected by itch. Infection exacerbated the itch in 59%. Other worsening factors were eating tin-foiled/canned food (31%) and use of aluminum-containing sunscreen (46%). Many parents took precautions to avoid aluminum exposure. Children with granulomas were more likely to be nonadherent to the National Vaccination Program than the reference group (27% vs 2%, P < .001). Parents in the granuloma group reported a decreased life quality for both parents and children compared with the reference group. CONCLUSIONS: Itching vaccination granulomas and aluminum allergy have a considerable negative impact on affected children and their families, causing avoidance behavior, reduced adherence to vaccination programs, and a negative effect on the overall life quality.
