Generalized eruption accompanied by hepatitis in two Thai metal cleaners exposed to trichloroethylene

Two female workers, aged 23 and 24, engaged in cleaning metal straps with trichloroethylene (TCE) in a watch manufacturing plant, experienced generalized eruption, mucosal lesion, fever and hepatitis. The first case suffered fulminant hepatitis and died from liver failure in two weeks after the first symptom appearance. The second case, whose onset of generalized eruption, mucosal lesion and hepatitis without jaundice was nine days after that of the first case, however, recovered in 2 wk. Because the result of working environment measurement suggested heavy exposure to TCE, we deemed that there would be a causal relationship between TCE exposure and the illness. Although there have been considerable number of papers describing the above-mentioned relationship, the fact is not well recognized even among medical personnel in Thailand. Taking the wide use of TCE into account, the prevention of this illness would be very important especially in rapidly industrializing countries.