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Hand and forearm dermatoses among veterinarians
1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
|February 21, 2007
Summary
Veterinary professionals frequently experience hand and forearm skin conditions. Irritant contact dermatitis is most common, but contact urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis also impact veterinarians, often caused by hygiene practices and animal contact.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Dermatology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Hand and forearm dermatoses are common in veterinary medicine.
- Skin diseases significantly impact veterinarians' careers and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify occupational dermatoses affecting veterinarians' hands and forearms.
- Utilized data from dermatological patch-test expert centers in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Main Methods:
- Dermatologists in Belgium and the Netherlands were surveyed about their experiences with veterinarian dermatoses.
- This approach avoided direct questioning of veterinarians, differing from previous studies.
Main Results:
- Data from seven dermatologists covered 58 veterinarians.
- Non-infectious dermatoses (79.3%) included contact urticaria and irritant or allergic contact dermatitis.
- Infectious dermatoses were reported in 20.7% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Irritant contact dermatitis is the primary cause of hand and forearm dermatoses in veterinarians.
- Contact urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis also contribute significantly to occupational illness.
- Likely causes include frequent hand washing, glove use, animal fluid exposure, and antiseptic agents.
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