European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory eczematous skin disease. It is caused by chemicals or metal ions that exert toxic effects without inducing a T-cell response (contact irritants) or by small reactive chemicals that modify proteins and induce innate and adaptive immune responses (contact allergens). Aim and Objective of the study: The aim and objectives of the study is to assess the clinical pattern and etiological profile in the subjects affected by contact dermatitis. Materials and Methods: Study participants were recruited as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria for a period of 2 years. Patch testing performed 2 weeks after the active lesions subside using Indian standard battery. Patch is removed after 48 hrs. First reading is taken after an hour of patch removal and second reading is taken at the end of 96 hrs results are interpreted as per the ICDRG (International contact dermatitis research group) grading Pre-and post-patch testing photographs are taken for comparison. Results: We included a total of 60 subjects presented with ACD based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of which 60 total study subjects 26 (43.33%) were males and 34 (56.67%) were females. The mean age in years was 36.03±13.47 years. Paraphenylene diamine was found to be the most common allergen (20.58%), followed by Nickel, cobalt and fragrance. Nickel exclusively affects females. The other allergens frequently found positive among female were paraphenyline diamine (85.11%) and parthenium (66.67%). The most frequently encountered allergen among males was Dichromate (66.67%). Discussion and conclusion: Maximum cases belonged to 21-30 years age group. ACD most frequently affects housewives (30%) and labourers (16.67%). In 40.67% of the patients the allergen detected by patch test could be correlated with history and presentation of ACD. Potassium dichromate exclusively affected males. Nickel was the commonest allergen among females