Patch test for the detection of contact allergens

Patch Test was done in 340 suspected allergic contact dermatitis patients having different ages of both sexes during the period of January 2000 to December 2003 in the department of Dermatology and Venerology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. Of these 340 cases 145 (42.65%) were male and 195 (57.35%) were female. Among these 340 cases, 250 (73.53%) cases were tested with international standard series allergen (ISS) and 90 (26.47%) cases with cosmetic series allergen (CSS), of which patch test was positive in 125 (50%) cases and 65 (72.22%) cases respectively. The 125 positive cases with ISS consisted of 56% male and 44% female. In 65 CSS positive cases 90.77% were female and 9.23% were male. Highest incidence of positive patch test was found in 61.54% cases in the age group of 30-39 years in ISS and 71.43% cases in the age group of 20-29 yrs in CSS. In ISS--Potassium Dichromate (19.2%), Fragrance mix (17.6%), Nickel Sulphate (15.2%) and PPD (11.2%) were found to be the common allergen and in CSS--Octyl Gallate (27.69%), Getrimide (18.92%), Balsum of Peru (15.38%), Thiomersal (12.31%) were found to be the common allergens.