Patch testing for hand dermatitis - 20 Years experience
Journal
Dermatologica Sinica
Journal Volume
24
Journal Issue
4
Pages
238-246
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Abstract
Hand dermatitis is the most frequently recognized occupational skin disease. Comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of hand dermatitis is crucial to be able to make a correct diagnosis or give appropriate recommendations for its management. From 1983 to 2002, among those referred to Contact Clinic at National Taiwan University Hospital, a total of 2568 patients were patch-tested. We recruited 716 cases of hand dermatitis with relevant contact history. After interview following a standardized questionnaire, patch testing with the European standard series and suspected allergens was administered. Among the 716 patients with hand dermatitis, the peak age group of male was 26-30 years of age and that of female was 21-25 years of age. Forty-eight percent (60.1% in men and 42.6% in women) of hand dermatitis was related to occupation. Builder, office workers, housewife, hairdresser and doctor/nurse/healthcare professionals were the most common types of occupation. Allergic contact dermatitis accounted for 38.2% in males and 33.5% in females. Overall, including occupational and non-occupational hand dermatitis, potassium dichromate and nickel sulphate were the first-rank allergens in male and female patients, respectively.
Subjects
Epidemiology; Hand dermatitis; Occupational dermatitis
SDGs
Other Subjects
dichromate potassium; nickel sulfate; adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; construction work; controlled study; dermatitis; female; hairdresser; health care personnel; human; infant; interview; major clinical study; male; nurse; occupational exposure; office worker; patch test; physician; questionnaire; risk factor; skin allergy
Type
journal article