Contact Dermatitis of Hands in Chandigarh

Sixty four patients (40 males, 24females) of contact dermatitis of hands were patch tested. The patients included housewives (22), factory workers (16), office workers (8), medical and para - medical personnel (8), building workers (3), teachers (4), and photographer, farmer and student one each. The substances tested included battery of metals, rubber chemicals, common medicaments and suspected substances. Sensitivity to metals was found in 34 (53. 1%) patients and nickel, cobalt and chromate in 40.6, 31.2 and 21.8% patients respectively. Medicament, rubber and vegetable sensitivity was found in 26 (40.6%), 13 (20.3%) and 13 (20.3%) patients respectively. The miscellaneous sensitizers were positive in 15 (23.4%) patients. They included plants oils, file cover, currency notes, DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), PPD (paraphenylenediamine) formaldehyde, mercuric chloride, film and paper developer.