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Prevalence, incidence and course of eczema on the hands and forearms in a sample of the general population
Author(s) -
Lantinga H.,
Nater J. P.,
Coenraads P. J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1984.tb00018.x
Subject(s) - hand eczema , medicine , potassium dichromate , dermatology , patch test , allergy , nickel allergy , incidence (geometry) , population , contact allergy , patch testing , cobalt chloride , irritant contact dermatitis , contact dermatitis , immunology , cobalt , environmental health , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , physics , optics
In 1979, the inhabitants of a geographically defined area were examined for skin disorders of the hands and forearms. In 1982 this cohort was invited for re‐examination. In persons with eczema, patch testing was performed. Irritant factors were found to play a rôle in 73% of the cases, whereas a contact allergy could be detected in 30%. The must frequent allergens were nickel sulphate (20%), potassium dichromate (6%), land cobalt chloride (4%). In some persons with a definite history of allergy to metals, no positive patch test with nickel, chromate or cobalt could be obtained; other mechanisms may be involved. Significantly more positive patch tests were found among persons with an eczema of longer than 2 years duration compared with persons, with eczema present for a shorter period of time, indicating that many cases of eczema are primarily of irritant nature, but later complicated by sensitisation. In 41%, the eczema was healed. A poor healing tendency was observed in those with a combination or irritant and allergic eczema. Relatively few ascribed healing to medical treatment.