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Human nail dust and precipitating antibodies to Trichophyton rubrum in chiropodists
Author(s) -
DAVIES R. R.,
GANDERTON M. A.,
SAVAGE M. A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1983.tb02605.x
Subject(s) - trichophyton rubrum , nail (fastener) , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , dermatology , medicine , immunology , virology , biology , materials science , metallurgy , antifungal
Summary The toe‐nail dust produced in chiropodial practice causes allergic hypersensitivity and Trichophyton rubrum is the most common fungal cause of nail dystrophy. Use of drills and burrs to reduce the thickness of hyperkeratotic nails generates dust and chiropodists develop precipitins to T. rubrum. A survey into the prevalence of these antibodies in 11.2% of state‐registered chiropodists is described and 14% of the profession estimated to have antibodies to T. rubrum. In response to a questionnaire 49% stated that toe‐nail dust troubled them; complaints of nasal and eye symptoms were 72 and 41% respectively. In 384 chiropodists ventilatory function was tested with a vitalograph. Restrictive lung disease appears to be more common in chiropodists than other sedentary workers.