Routine Patch Testing In A Dermatology Clinic Of A Teaching Hospital In Nigeria

Abstract

Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) poses a great diagnostic challenge to the dermatologist as it mimics many common dermatoses. Patch test (PT) is used to establish the diagnosis of ACD and to exclude suspected allergens. This study reviewed the clinical presentations and patch test results of consecutive patients with the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis seen at the skin clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). This was a prospective study of all patients that presented with features of allergic contact dermatitis at the skin clinic of LUTH between September 2003 and October 2004. One hundred and two patients with ACD and 100 controls were patch tested and included in the sample size. Allergic contact dermatitis accounted for 7.7% of patients that presented at the dermatology clinic of LUTH during the study period. There was a slight female preponderance and the highest number of patients presented between the ages of 21 and 40. Features of chronic eczema were found in 71.4% of patients. Sixty patients (58.3%) and 26 controls (26%) had positive patch test responses. There was a statistically significant difference between the patch test responses in patients and controls. The specificity of the patch test procedure was 74% and the sensitivity was 58.8%. Patients with allergic contact dermatitis will benefit from routine patch test for aetiological diagnosis and to prevent chronicity.