Contact dermatitis from compositae plants

Abstract

Eighty patients (58 males and 22 females) suspected of compositae contact dermatitis and 22 controls were investigated using ethanolic plants extracts., Fifty four (68%) patients and none of the controls had positive patch tests. Forty five (56%) of these patients showed positive reactions with, extracts of only a single Compositae plant. Parthenium hysterophorus produced positive reactions in 51%, Chrysanthemum morifolium in 23%, Dahlia pinnata in 9% and Tagetes indica in 4% patients. The highest number (84%) of patients with positive patch tests were exposed to these plants during their occupation.