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[A case of acupuncture needle dermatitis]
M Morimoto1, K Kawata, N Tsuchiya
1Department of Anesthesiology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osakasayama.
Masui. the Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology
|September 22, 2000
Summary
Acupuncture can cause nickel contact dermatitis and greater occipital trigeminal syndrome. Prompt diagnosis and nerve block treatment relieved the patient's pain and skin symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Dermatology
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Acupuncture is a common treatment for headache and shoulder stiffness.
- Contact dermatitis can arise from various sources, including medical devices.
- Greater occipital trigeminal syndrome involves pain in the head and face distribution.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old female presented with painful, red, vesicular dermatitis on her forehead and around her left eye.
- Symptoms appeared 6 days after receiving acupuncture treatment.
- Patch testing revealed a positive reaction to nickel sulfate.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with greater occipital trigeminal syndrome.
- Contact dermatitis, likely due to nickel in the acupuncture needle, was identified.
- Treatment with greater occipital nerve block and trigger point injection effectively relieved pain.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering iatrogenic causes of dermatitis and neuropathic pain.
- Nickel allergy should be suspected in patients with dermatitis following acupuncture.
- Multimodal treatment approaches can successfully manage complex presentations involving neurological and dermatological symptoms.