Allergic reactions to benzalkonium chloride

H, Afzelius; Thulin, H

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1979.tb05546.x

Cited by 50 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Sensitization to benzalkonium chloride has been reported as a result of occupational exposure (30) in physicians, nurses, dentists and veterinarians, and allergic reactions to a variety of different products containing this chemical have been reported, including detergents/antiseptics (30–34), antifungal creams (35, 36), ophthalmic preparations (4, 37–39), plaster of Paris (40, 41), as a denaturant of ethanol (42) and in toothpastes (43).…”

Section: Benzalkonium Chloride: Evidence For Allergymentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong irritants masquerading as skin allergens: the case of benzalkonium chloride

et al. 2004

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Chemicals may possess a number of hazards to human health including the ability to cause skin irritation and contact allergy. Identification and characterization of these properties should fall within predictive toxicology, but information derived from human exposure, including clinical experience, is also of importance. In this context, it is of interest to review the case of benzalkonium chloride, a cationic surfactant. This chemical is a well-known skin irritant, but on occasions it has also been reported to have allergenic properties, typically on the basis of positive diagnostic patch test data. Because the accumulated knowledge concerning the properties of a chemical is employed as the basis for its regulatory classification (e.g. in Europe), as well as for informing the clinical community with respect to the diagnosis of irritant versus allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), it is important to distinguish properly which chemicals are simply irritants from those which are both irritant and allergenic on skin. A review of the information on benzalkonium chloride confirms that it is a significant skin irritant. However, both predictive test results and clinical data lead to the conclusion that benzalkonium chloride is, at most, an extremely rare allergen, except perhaps in the eye, but with many supposed cases of ACD being likely to arise from the misinterpretation of patch test data. As a consequence, this substance should not normally be regarded as, or classified as, a significant skin sensitizer.

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Section: Benzalkonium Chloride: Evidence For Allergymentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong irritants masquerading as skin allergens: the case of benzalkonium chloride

et al. 2004

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“…The differences in rate among Chinese ANTIMICROBIAL SENSITIVITY IN SINGAPORE Table]. The prevalence of contact sensitivity to antimicrobials, according to age, group and race (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contact sensitivity to topical antimicrobials

1989

Contact Dermatitis

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18% (571/3145) of patients attending a contact dermatitis clinic in Singapore had contact sensitivity to one or more topical antimicrobials. The rates in males and females were similar. The rate for patients under 50 years old was 16% and for those over 50 years old 30% (p less than 0.0001). There were no significant differences in the rates among Chinese, Malays, Indians and other races. The antimicrobials proflavine, neomycin and clioquinol were the commonest sensitizers.

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“…The symptoms ranged from paradoxical bronchoconstriction to anaphylactic reaction and angioneurotic edema [3]. Occurrence of toxic contact dermatitis in a type IV reaction [5] has also been described. A property causing direct damage to cilia has also been reported, which must be kept in mind above all when the agents are used on mucosa with ciliated epithelia such as those of the nose or upper respiratory tract [6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaphylactic reaction following administration of nose drops containing benzalkonium chloride

et al. 2012

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We describe a case of anaphylactic reaction in a 46-year-old female post application of decongestant nose drops containing benzalkonium chloride (BAC). With some latency, the patient complained of cough, dyspnea, sensation of heat, croakiness and pruritus. Since she showed all of these symptoms, typical of an anaphylactic reaction, we proceeded some weeks later with a prick test with solutions containing BAC, a cationic surfactant commonly used as an antibacterial preservative in many medical solutions. The prick test was positive, confirming the assumption of a hypersensitive reaction to BAC.

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Allergic reactions to benzalkonium chloride

Cited by 50 publications

References 1 publication

Strong irritants masquerading as skin allergens: the case of benzalkonium chloride

Strong irritants masquerading as skin allergens: the case of benzalkonium chloride

Contact sensitivity to topical antimicrobials

Anaphylactic reaction following administration of nose drops containing benzalkonium chloride

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