Prevalence Of Hand Dermatitis Research Articles

History of atopy: a risk factor in developing reactions to gloves

Objective: To assess the significance of a personal history of atopy and other risk factors for UK dentists reporting an adverse reaction to natural rubber latex (NRL) gloves. Design: Questionnaire survey. Intervention A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 2535 dentists of whom 1034 (group 1) had reported an adverse reaction to NRL gloves and 1501 (group 2) had not. The signs and symptoms reported by group 1 dentists were recorded. Outcome measures: Logistic regression analysis was used to identify a set of risk factors that produced the most discrete model for a dentist reporting an adverse reaction to NRL gloves. Risk factors entered into the analysis were gender, years in clinical practice, exposure to gloves and a history of atopy (asthma, hay fever, eczema) or food allergy. Results: Dentists with a history of eczema and hand eczema in childhood were most likely to report an adverse reaction to NRL gloves. Female dentists were more likely to develop a self-reported reaction to NRL gloves (women have a higher prevalence of hand dermatitis generally). Dentists practising for less than 10 years were at greater risk. Conclusion: A personal history of atopy was a significant risk factor. Hand care, including correct glove selection and hand disinfection should be taught to undergraduates. Dentists should choose a powder free NRL glove, low in residual accelerators and latex proteins. Field EA. Atopy and other risk factors for UK dentists reporting an adverse reaction to latex gloves. Contact Dermatitis 1998; 38:132–136

Nickel as an occupational allergen. A survey of 368 nickel-sensitive subjects.

To define the role of nickel as an occupational allergen. Survey using path-test results. Contact dermatitis clinic in the university hospital of a large industrial British city. Three hundred sixty-eight nickel-allergic patients seen during a 5-year period were assessed for the relevance of nickel contact in their workplace. Patients were divided into possible occupational nickel allergy and nonoccupational nickel allergy groups. Nickel was considered an occupational allergen or possible occupational allergen in 84 (22.8%) of 368 patients shown to be nickel sensitive on patch testing. The main workers in whom nickel was a common allergen were hairdressers, retail clerks, caterers, domestic cleaners, and metalworkers. Those for whom occupational exposure was possible had a significantly higher prevalence of hand dermatitis compared with the nonoccupational nickel allergy group. Nickel allergy seemed to function as a secondary occupational influence, often in conjunction with other factors, such as irritants. Although the overall importance of nickel as an occupational allergen cannot be easily assessed, there is evidence of its importance in some occupations, especially those involving wet work. The possibility that nickel is acting as an occupational allergen needs to be assessed on an individual basis, taking into account personal circumstances and environment, but particularly should be considered in patients with hand dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis in Alstroemeria workers.

Hand dermatitis is common in workers in the horticultural industry. This study determined the prevalence of hand dermatitis in workers of Alstroemeria cultivation, investigated how many workers had been sensitized by tulipalin A (the allergen in Alstroemeria) and took stock of a wide range of determinants of hand dermatitis. The 12-month period prevalence of major hand dermatitis amounted to 29.5% whereas 7.4% had minor dermatitis. Of these workers, 52.1% were sensitized for tulipalin A. Several personal and work-related determinants played a role in the multifactorial aetiology of hand dermatitis. Factors which showed a significant relationship with major hand dermatitis were: female sex, atopic dermatitis, chapped hands and the frequency of washing hands. It may be concluded that the Alstroemeria workers are a population at risk of developing contact dermatitis and it might be useful to carry out an educational campaign to lower the high prevalence.

Occupational skin disorders and scissors-induced injury in hairdressers

This study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of occupational skin disorders and scissors-induced injuries among hairdressers in Tainan City, Taiwan. We recruited the graduates of the Department of Hairdressing from two professional schools for health evaluation. One hundred and seven current hairdressers completed the study, which included a questionnaire interview, skin and physical examination, and patch testing. The results of skin examination and patch test showed that stylists had high prevalence of scissors induced wounds or scars (81%) over the web between the index and middle fingers of the non-dominant hand. The hairdressers also had a high prevalence of hand dermatitis (72%). Occurrence of hand dermatitis is highly correlated with the frequency of shampooing. With the above findings, we recommend 1. (1) using dull-tip scissors for hair cutting to prevent scissors-induced trauma; 2. (2) wearing gloves for shampooing to prevent irritant contact dermatitis and potential cross-infection; 3. (3) including the education for prevention of scissors cuts in the hairdresser's training programs.

Prevalence of latex allergy in a dental school.

To determine the prevalence of latex allergy in dental workers. Questionnaire survey of staff of a dental school. The Westmead Dental School, a large dental facility in western Sydney. 230 staff members of the Westmead Dental School (consisting of general and specialist dentists, chairside assistants and registered nurses, laboratory technicians, dental therapists and hygienists) received questionnaires. The prevalence of latex allergy, defined by prompt onset of hand urticaria with or without generalised symptoms, and the prevalence of hand dermatitis and other glove-related symptoms. Also, the relationship between latex allergy and associated atopic status. 177 staff (77%) responded by the set collection date; 33% reported symptoms related to wearing gloves and 22% satisfied the criteria for glove dermatitis. Sixteen respondents (9%) reported characteristics suggestive of latex-glove allergy. Confirmation of the 9% prevalence of latex allergy among dental workers will require further studies incorporating an objective measure of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity.

Evaluation of a self-administered questionnaire on hand dermatitis.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate a self-administered questionnaire on hand dermatitis that was developed to identify persons with hand dermatitis in epidemiological studies. A total of 109 nurses were subject to dermatological examination of the hands within 1 month of returning the questionnaire. 2 types of questionnaire diagnoses were made: a 'symptom-based' diagnosis and a 'self-reported diagnosis'. These were compared to the medical diagnosis of hand dermatitis. The prevalence of hand dermatitis in the 12 months before the study, based on the medical diagnosis, was 18.3%. The prevalence according to the symptom-based diagnosis and the self-reported diagnosis was 47.7% and 17.4%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the symptom-based diagnosis were 100% and 64%, respectively. It is concluded that the symptom-based diagnosis can be used as screening instrument for the detection of cases in large study populations, if followed by dermatological examination of persons with a positive diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the self-reported diagnosis were 65% and 93%, respectively. It is concluded that the self-reported diagnosis can be used to obtain a rough estimate of the prevalence, although comparison of prevalence figures between study populations may be distorted due to a difference in reporting of hand dermatitis. The results of the study illustrate the size of the differences in prevalence estimates that may arise as a result of differences in the definition and method of diagnosing hand dermatitis.