A 5-year-old with moderate atopic eczema has no immediate food reactions, normal growth and good control when topical treatment is used correctly.

Question

A 5-year-old with moderate atopic eczema has no immediate food reactions, normal growth and good control when topical treatment is used correctly. The parent requests a broad food-allergy panel to prevent the “atopic march”. What is the best response?

Accepted Answer

Use targeted allergy testing only when history, growth or refractory eczema suggests allergy

Answer

Delay all eczema treatment until patch and specific-IgE testing have identified a trigger

Answer

Begin empirical milk, egg and wheat exclusion for eight weeks before optimising topical therapy

Answer

Request skin-prick testing for seasonal-rhinitis triggers before changing skin treatment

Answer

Order serum IgE to every common food because eczema alone predicts clinically important allergy

Atopic March — SCE Dermatology MCQ

A 5-year-old with moderate atopic eczema has no immediate food reactions, normal growth and good control when topical treatment is used correctly. The parent requests a broad food-allergy panel to prevent the “atopic march”. What is the best response?