Premium
Allergic contact dermatitis due to benzalkonium chloride in plaster of Paris
Author(s) -
Wong Deanna A,
Watson Alan B
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-0960.2001.00469.x
Subject(s) - benzalkonium chloride , medicine , contact dermatitis , dermatology , allergic contact dermatitis , forearm , allergen , picryl chloride , ammonium chloride , allergy , surgery , pathology , immunology , chemistry , organic chemistry , immune system
SUMMARY Plaster of Paris (POP) bandages are extensively used for splinting and casting injured or surgically repaired body parts. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by POP has been reported only rarely in the medical literature. An 81‐year‐old woman developed multiple large, tense, haemorrhagic bullae on the palm, and an acute vesicular eczematous eruption on the forearm, after the application of a POP splint. Subsequent patch testing revealed positive reactions to both the POP bandage used and to benzalkonium chloride, a component of the POP formulation. Patch tests to two other POP products without benzalkonium chloride were negative. These results confirm those of previous studies which have implicated the quaternary ammonium compound benzalkonium chloride as the allergen responsible for POP‐induced allergic contact dermatitis.