Does the severity of atopic dermatitis change with allergic sensitization? Is it real or a myth?

Abstract

Objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can occur at any age. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of food allergy on disease severity as well as clinical/laboratory findings in children with AD. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data of AD patients evaluated for food allergy between January 2021 and December 2022 were examined retrospectively. Results: Of the 52 patients evaluated, 32 (61.5%) were males, with a median age of 6 months (2–118 months). Among them, 26 (50%) had food allergies (FA) and five (9.6%) had inhalant allergen sensitivity. No significant difference in AD severity was observed between patients with and without FA. However, the FA group showed higher serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (343.3 ± 81.5 U/L vs 297.7 ± 77.4 U/L; P = 0.011) and lower red cell distribution width (RDW). Inhalant allergen sensitivity was associated with higher AD severity. Conclusion: While guidelines recommend investigating food allergies in moderate to severe AD, this study found no significant difference in the relationship between AD severity and the presence of FA. However, inhalant allergen sensitivity was linked to increased AD severity. Therefore, a comprehensive patient history should include an evaluation of food allergies in children with AD, regardless of disease severity. Elimination and provocation tests related to suspected food items should be performed, and allergenic foods should be removed from the diet if they are found to contribute to the allergy.