ArticleFrontiers in pediatrics2025
Case Report: Systemic contact dermatitis caused by benzalkonium chloride in a family (a child and parents).
Article in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Skin absorption and metabolism of [Toxicological research · 2026Article
- Systemic Contact Dermatitis Triggered by Benzalkonium Chloride in Laundry Detergent A Case Initially Misdiagnosed as Eczema.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) occurs due to re-exposure to sensitizing agents via systemic routes, often triggered by drugs, metals, and food additives. Benzalkonium chloride, a cationic surfactant in different household products, can also induce allergic reactions. Case presentation: An 11-year-old girl and her parents presented to our outpatient clinic with erythematous, pruritic plaques and scaling. The girl displayed lesions on her anterior chest and popliteal fossae, moreover her parents had similar lesions on their trunks. Notably, she had no previous allergic responses, and furthermore the laboratory results, including blood counts and IgE levels, were normal. Dermoscopic examination revealed a bright-red background with focal branching vasculature and white scales. Histopathology indicated hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, and dermal inflammation. However, further investigation uncovered that the family had recently started using a laundry detergent containing benzalkonium chloride. What's more, patch testing with dilutions of the detergent was conducted on the girl and her father, both of whom showed positive reactions, which confirming an allergic response. So they were diagnosed as systemic contact dermatitis (SCD). The rash gradually subsided after the detergent was stopped and the anti-allergy treatment was carried out, and there was no recurrence during the 3-month follow-up. Discussion: Although benzalkonium chloride is mainly regarded as an irritant, it can induce an allergic reaction, particularly in pediatric populations. The case indicates that benzalkonium chloride can trigger SCD even with minimal exposure through household products, and further research is needed to elucidate the underlying immunological mechanisms. Conclusion: This case emphasizes that benzalkonium chloride can induce SCD even with minimal exposure through household products. Increased awareness of allergens in everyday consumer goods is essential, and further research is needed to elucidate the underlying immunological mechanisms.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.