Clinical experiences of occupational dermatoses in recent years
Sun, C.C.
Gaoxiong Yi Xue Ke Xue Za Zhi 4(7): 378-385
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0257-5655 PMID: 2971820 Document Number: 319397
Among 1,596 (M 524, F 1,072) patients investigated in the Contact Clinic, Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital for the past 9 years, a total of 338 (M 170, F 168) cases were diagnosed as having occupational dermatitis with the ratio of 21.2% (M 32.4%, F 16.4%). Of the 338 cases, 181 (53.6%) were primary irritant contact dermatitis and 157 (46.5%) cases were allergic eczematous contact dermatitis. The most common occupations were electronics (76), printing (46), construction (37), housing (26), medicine (33) and hairdressers (24). The most common lesions were on the hands especially on the fingers, and forearms. The most contact allergens were chrome (59), nickel (49), cobalt (26), paraphenylenediamine (12) and epoxy resins (11). The above observations may not represent the actual situation of industrial skin diseases in Taiwan, for there is no referral system between factories and physicians. However, from years of clinical experience in industrial dermatitis, it is been found that most of the factory workers with skin diseases, instead of taking sick leave and face wage deductions, visit local physicians who are not dermatologists or are not experienced in industrial diseases. And those workers seen in this hospital are not able to have a complete study or an accurate diagnosis due to the obstacles in obtaining essential information or samples of contactants from their work. In conclusion, this is indeed a problem waiting for an imminent solution.