ENVIRONMENTAL DERMATITIS: PATCH TESTS IN 1,000 CASES OF ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS

Abstract

One thousand cases of contact allergic dermatitis were observed over the course of 7 years in South Australia. A single chemical compound or materiat revealed by patch testing in each case was chosen as the most important cause and la recorded in 1 of 3 convenient classifications under the headings: Medicaments; Home, Garden and Buth; and Industry, Individual groups within these classifications are discussed in detail relative to cultural attitudes within the community and environmental pollution. If the practice of patch testing is carried out over many years It increases the dermatologist's clinical acumen as well as aiding his patients to avoid the sources of their dermatitides. The authors have, however, diagnosed cases of housewives' hand dermatitis and clothing dermatitis among others in which they were unable to reveal a cause by patch testing and appreciate that their knowledge of our chemical environment is far from complete. The survey indicates the most frequent sources of contact allergic dermatitis in South Australia and it is suggested that legislation may be necessary if the incidence is to decrease.