Prevalence of Dermatitis and Superficial Fungal Infection of the Hands in Seafood Workers: An Investigation from Food Markets in Ningbo, China.

Abstract

ObjectiveSeafood workers have high risks of hand skin diseases. The purpose of this survey is to study the prevalence of occupational hand skin diseases in this population.MethodsFrom March 2018 to October 2018, seafood workers in two food markets in Ningbo, China were investigated. Fungal microscopy and cultures from lesions on the hands and nails were performed. A community-based investigation of hand skin diseases was performed as a control group.ResultsOne handred and eleven of 135 (82.2%) seafood workers in two food markets in Ningbo were taken into the investigation. The prevalence of hand dermatitis was 50.5% (56/111) in seafood workers, which is significantly higher than that of the control group (7.43%, p<0.001). It was found that the incidence of superficial fungal infection of the hands in seafood workers was much higher than that in community residents (26.1% vs 2.7%, p<0.001). Without wearing waterproof gloves, longer working time per day, longer history of seafood work increased the risk of hand dermatitis, instead of candidial infection of the hands and nails.ConclusionHand skin diseases are highly prevalent in seafood workers in Ningbo, a city in eastern China. This public health problem should be addressed in this population.