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Contact dermatitis (CD) is a common skin condition caused by contact with an exogenous agent that elicits an inflammatory response. While history and physical exam can be helpful in distinguishing between irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), the gold standard for diagnosing ACD is patch testing. While the actual patch test (PT) procedure and application is relatively straightforward, the decisions involving which allergens to use, interpretation of results, determination of relevant allergens and subsequent patient management requires more skill and expertise. Often, the distribution of the presenting dermatitis can provide insight into the potential causative allergens and should be taken into account when selecting PT allergens. Commercially available PT panels and personal care products can be used for patch testing. Determining the clinical relevance of PT results is a critical component of the PT procedure. Patients must be educated on avoidance of relevant allergens and given guidance on alternative products available for use. Special populations, including children with ACD, occupational contact dermatitis (OCD), and patients with biomedical devices have unique allergen considerations and PT panels should be directed as such to address all potential allergens.

Rationale: Cutaneous, inhaled, intranasal and systemic corticosteroids(CS) are commonly prescribed for the treatment of atopic dermatitis(AD), asthma, and allergic rhinitis. The cumulative burden of these steroids in individual patients are not routinely assessed by providers and can lead to adverse effects. We sought to use an EMR-tool to increase documentation of the total steroid burden(SB) in our patients with atopic dermatitis and asthma.
Method(s): A SB EMR-tool was used for 99 AD encounters and 64 asthma encounters over an 18-month period. Data collected included corticosteroid type, potency, frequency, side effects, interventions and counseling.
Result(s): There were 99 AD encounters assessed in 58 patients(53% female, mean age of 31). Of these 99 encounters using topical corticosteroids(TCS), 24 were using inhaled CS; 12 using intranasal CS and 8 using systemic CS. The most common side effects encountered while on TCS included: pigment changes(n=20), skin atrophy(n=11), easy bruising(n=7), telangiectasias(n=6), striae(n=6), rosacea(n=3), and hair growth(n=2). Twenty-eight encounters(28%) had an intervention: 10 decreased dose, 3 decreased potency and 15 discontinued TCS. 85 encounters(86%) documented patient counseling. There were 64 asthma encounters assessed in 49 patients(63% female, mean age of 56). Of these 64 encounters using inhaled CS, 27 were using intranasal CS and 18 using systemic CS. The most common side effects encountered while using inhaled CS included: candidiasis(n=6) and hoarseness(n=1). Four encounters(6.25%) had an intervention: 3 decreased dose, 1 discontinuation. 62 encounters(97%) documented patient counseling.
Conclusion(s): Using our EMR-tool facilitates the identification and tracking of total SB in patients, associated side effects and leads to meaningful intervention.
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Background: Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) is a very effective treatment modality; however, it can be associated with both local and systemic reactions (SR). Identifying patient factors that predict SR remains paramount. Objective: Our aim was to identify the rate of SRs to SCIT as well as identify patient risk factors associated with the development of SRs. Methods: We conducted an institutional review board approved 10-year retrospective chart review of 459 patients who received SCIT in our clinic. The patients were placed into cohorts according to age, which included pediatric (5-18 years), adult (19-64 years), and senior (>65 years) patients. Results: An SR (N = 177) was identified in 24.8% of the patients (n = 114). The incidence of SR per injection was 0.2% (177 SRs of 74,183 total injections). SRs were identified as class 1 (n = 152), class 2 (n = 21), class 3 (n = 2), and class 4 (n = 2) according to the 2010 World Allergy Organization's SR grading system. There were no observed differences in the number of SRs with respect to age group. Female patients were more likely to have an SR (p = 0.02) overall as well as more than one reaction (p = 0.002). Other risk factors included the following: a patient-reported history of food allergy (p = 0.05), drug allergy (p = 0.005), or positive skin test result to cat and/or dog (p = 0.01). In addition, patients who were receiving SCIT to cat and/or dog (p = 0.004) or to dust mite (p = 0.03) were more likely to have an SR. Conclusion: In our patient population, the majority of SRs to SCIT occurred in female patients, patients with a history of drug or food allergies, and those who were receiving pet or dust-mite SCIT.