The preparation of food in restaurant kitchens carries a high risk of occupational dermatoses. Analysis of 33 cases revealed four different etiological types. Simple irritant dermatitis was rare (2 cases), plain contact dermatitis was more common (6 cases). Fifteen patients had relevant patch tests and scratch tests; ten had positive scratch tests only to explain the cause of their dermatitis. The last type was termed protein contact dermatitis. The major type IV allergens incriminated ...

Patch tests with 24 Compositae species were performed on 81 patients suspected of having a plant dermatitis, of whom 16 had positive reactions to various species. When Compositae were included in the standard series, 10 of 488 consecutive patients (2%) were found to be sensitive to one or more species. Most of the positive test reactions were relevant. Fourteen of 16 sensitivities could have been detected by testing with two mixtures of Compositae. Alantolactone could not serve as a ...

In a search for contact sensitivity to antioxidants we patch tested consecutive patients referred with eczematous dermatitis. Six cases of allergic contact sensitivity to nordihydroguairetic acid (NDGA) were observed. Three had been sensitized by one brand of cream containing 0.1% NDGA, in three patients the source of sensitization could not be traced. In four patients we found positive patch tests to butylated hydroxyanisole and/or to butylated hydroxytoluene. In two cases the positive ...

Thirty-six of 37 veterinary surgeons with incapacitating dermatitis had allergic contact dermatitis, mainly from antibiotics such as spiramycin, Penethamate BP and tylosin. Eight were sensitive to rubber materials. Twenty of 36 had positive prick or scratch tests, mainly to animal hair. The atopic sensitivities were relevant to the contact dermatitis since most of those who have them develop contact reactions from cows' hair and from obstetric work with cows. Protein contact dermatitis ...

SUMMARY.— In a series of 4000 patients patch tested in 5 European clinics, 1000 were engaged in domestic work only; they included 281 women with contact dermatitis of the hands. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups as regards age, duration of dermatitis and patch test results.

Half of the 281 women had a positive patch test, the responsible allergens in order of rank being balsams, nickel, medicaments, cobalt, rubber, chromate, benzocaine and paraphenylenediamine. ...

In two cases, occupational contact dermatitis was found to be due to chicory (Cichorium) used as a salad plant. In one of the two cases, contact sensitivity to letuce (Lactuca) was also observed. The sesquiterpene lactones of the plant may be the allergens.

Among 1511 consecutive patients patch tested with Kathon CG at 100 ppm active ingredient, 13 (0.8%) gave a positive reaction. Use test with a lotion containing Kathon CG (8.6 ppm) revealed no reaction in 11 patients with a positive patch test. It is concluded that a positive patch test reaction to 100 ppm does not initiate eczema after use of products preserved with Kathon CG in the low concentrations (3-15 ppm) used in final products.

Four thousand consecutive patients with eczema in five European clinics were tested with a series of medicaments. These included 20% neomycin sulfate, 5% benzocaine, 5% iodochlorhydroxyquin (Vioform), 15% parabens, 30% wool alcohols, and 5% chlorquinaldol (Sterosan), in a petrolatum vehicle.Of the 4,000, 560 (14%) were judged to have a relevant medicament dermatitis; this represented one third of all allergic contact dermatitis in this series. Forty percent of women with dermatitis of ...

American ragweed (Ambrosia) dermatitis has an airborne pattern and is caused by lipid soluble oleoresins of pollens. A similar weed dermatitis has been described in India and Australia. The weeds involved were all of the Compositae family and contain sesquiterpene lactones with one common antigenic determinant. This study reports seven Danish patients treated for many years under the diagnosis of photodermatitis, who eventually proved to suffer from Compsoitae oleoresin dermatitis. ...

The catchword "baboon syndrome" is used to denote a characteristic distribution pattern of systemic allergic contact dermatitis. Diffuse erythema of the buttocks, upper inner surface of the thighs, and axillae are characteristic features. We describe 3 cases provoked by ampicillin, nickel and mercury. The condition may be overlooked and suspected of being a textile dermatitis or seborrhoeic dermatitis of the elderly.

In 1396 consecutively patch tested patients 18 (1.3%) reacted to Kathon CG. Relevance was established in 4 of the 18 patients. The frequency of positive reactions to Kathon CG in eczema patients seems to have been stable in Denmark during the period 1983 to 1988.

The authors report a study of patch test sensitivity to the allergen of Primula obconica (2-methoxy-6-n-pentyl-p-benzoquinone), which has recently been isolated and synthesized. The amount of primin necessary to give a positive reaction to a closed patch test in all patients sensitive to Primula obconica is 1 μg or less. The reactions to open patch tests were stronger than those obtained with closed patch tests. Since the amount of allergen in the plant varies considerably, pure primin ...

Two patients suffering from terminal ileitis showed signs of zinc depletion during longterm total intravenous feeding. Initially, the skin lesions resembled seborrhoeic eczema with diffuse loss of hair, scaling in the scalp and erosions around the orifices. Later bullae appeared in the creases of the fingers and around the nails. In both patients serum alkaline phosphatase levels gradually decreased and serum zinc was significantly lowered. A prompt beneficial effect in the patients' ...