Statistical data on occupational contact urticaria

Abstract

Data on occupational contact urticaria (protein contact dermatitis included) in Finland during 1990-1994 were analyzed. Altogether 815 cases were reported to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases during this period, compared with 1944 cases of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. Accordingly, the total number of occupational allergic contact dermatoses was 2759, 29.5% being contact urticaria and 70.5% being allergic contact dermatitis. Occupational contact urticaria was much more common in women (70%) than in men (30%). The 6 most common causes of contact urticaria were (1) cow dander (362 cases = 44.4%), (2) natural rubber latex (193 cases = 23.7%), (3) flour, grains and feed (92 cases = 11.3%), (4) handling of foodstuffs (25 cases = 3.1%), (5) industrial enzymes (14 cases = 1.7%) and (6) decorative plants (13 cases = 1.6%). The occupations with the highest numbers of occupational contact urticaria were farmers (341 cases), domestic animal attendants (61), bakers (53), nurses (42), chefs (40) and dental assistants (28). The ranking list of the most common occupations with occupational contact urticaria per 100,000 employed workers was as follows: (1) bakers (140.5 cases per 100,000 employed persons), (2) preparers of processed food, (3) dental assistants, (4) veterinary surgeons, (5) domestic animal attendants, (6) farmers and silviculturalists, (7) chefs, cooks and cold buffet managers, (8) dairy workers, (9) horticultural supervisors, (10) laboratory technicians and radiographers, (11) physicians, (12) butchers and sausage makers, (13) laboratory assistants, (14) dentists and (15) nurses (21.2 cases per 100,000 employed person). Low-molecular-weight chemicals caused very few cases of occupational contact urticaria, the most common being 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (5 cases). To summarize, occupational contact urticaria forms a large group of occupational contact dermatoses, and dermatologists need to be able to diagnose IgE-mediated immediate skin allergic diseases.

Skin symptoms and work‐related skin symptoms among grape farmers in Crete, Greece

“…According to Finnish studies, farmers have demonstrated the highest prevalence of occupational contact urticaria [Kanerva et al, 1996], and dairy farming has been found to be an occupational risk factor for hand dermatoses [Susitaival et al, 1994[Susitaival et al, , 1995. Among private farmers in Poland, allergic contact dermatitis was the most common occupational dermatitis [Spiewak, 2003].…”

The national survey of adverse reactions to dental materials in the UK: a preliminary study by the UK Adverse Reactions Reporting Project

“…27 It has been reported that the incidence of contact dermatitis to methacrylate resins in dental personnel is increasing due to the increased use of methacrylate containing materials (compomers, composites, RMGICs) to replace amalgam as a restorative material, especially in Europe. 20 The timescale of the ARRP is still too short to confirm this. The symptoms reported to the ARRP include dry, cracked, flaking skin on the hands and often fingertips with itching, irritation and swelling.…”

“…Intense, and sometimes irrelevant, discussions regarding the possible harmful effects of mercury in dental amalgam, has led to the decrease in mercury use in many countries, increasing the use of alternative products. 20,21 However, published research 22 also found that the incidence of oral lichenoid reactions adjacent to amalgam restorations occurred more often than other long-term side effects to dental materials. In addition, despite a reduction in dental caries in younger people 23 and an increase in the number of older people with their own teeth, this has not reduced the need for restorative dentistry.…”

Contact Urticaria

“…The most commonly afected professional groups are healthcare employees, food handlers, farmers and hairdressers [24,25]. Immunologic and non-immunologic contact urticaria types can be seen in OCU.…”