Air-borne Contact Dermatitis in Varanasi

Forty-six patients suspected to have air borne contact dermatitis were tested with various plant antigens. Thirteen patients turned out to be sensitive to one or more antigens. The plant antigens, used for testing, were Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana camara, Cynodon dactylon, Bougainvaled spectabills, calotropis procera, Argimone mexicana, Acacia arabica, Azadiracha indica, Eucalyptus rostrata, Saraka indica, triticum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Dryopteris filix, Nerium indicum, Eclipta alba, Mangifera indica, Trianthema monogyna, Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia thimifolia, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Carissa carands, Salvia plebia, Cyperus rotandus, Cassia occidentalis, Gynandropsis gynandra, Pennisetum typhoides, chenopodium album, Nicotana tobacum, Tagetes sp, Rosa indica, Cestrum nocturnum, Helianthus annus, Jasminum samlae, Thuja orientalis, Cajanus cajan, Hibiscus rosasinensis, Echinochloa cruss-galli, Phaseolus aureus, Ricinus communis and Alternantheria sessilis. The maximum positive reactions were elicited by Parthenium hysterophorus (30.0%) followed in the order of frequency by Amarnthus viridis (10.0%) Gynandropsis gynandra (10.0%) Pennisetum typhoides (10.0%), Nerium indicum (3.9%), Triticum vulgare (2.5%) and Dryopteris filix (2.5%). Rest of the plant antigens did not show any reaction. The male to female ratio was 5.5:1.