Abstract
In an investigation of 541 members of a hospital cleaning department, a prevalence rate of occupational skin diseases of 15.3% was found. During their hospital employment, 39.1% had a skin disease. Higher prevalence in the younger age groups can be explained by the selection of those with skin diseases for work away from the cleaning department. A large number developed their disease shortly after employment began. This was an indication that the observed prevalent conditions were irritant diseases. The distribution by diagnosis confirms this conclusion in as much as 75% of the occupational skin diseases were irritant dermatitis, 21% allergic contact dermatitis, and 4% monilia of the finger webs. The causes of allergic contact dermatitis were found to be formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and chloramine in addition to nickel and rubber. Among the causes of irritant dermatitis were detergents, alkaline substances, acids and sodium perborate as well as hypochlorite and hypobromite combinations. In order to reduce occupational skin diseases among cleaning personnel, it is necessary to extend both local and more general prophylactic measures.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
