Low Prevalence of the Occupational Dermatoses Among the Silk Workers in Assam

Survey of 115 silk workers near Guwahati (Assam) for their dermatologic problems revealed important differences from the problem faced by the silk workers in Bangalore (Karnataka). Prevalence of the two major dermatoses, maceratin and pitted keratolysis occurring in 51.8% and 37.5% of the workers at Bangalore, was seen in only 2.6% and 6.1% of the Assam workers. This is possibly due to the fact that at Guwahati the silk work is a cottage industry and every worker works in short spells of time rather than continuous 8 hour duty as at Bangalore.