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Summary
Hospital wet workers frequently develop hand eczema due to irritants and allergens. While contact allergies are common, endogenous factors and irritant exposure, even at home, play a larger role in hand eczema etiology.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Hand eczema is a prevalent occupational skin disease among hospital "wet" workers.
- A significant proportion of affected workers report pre-existing hand eczema or atopic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiological factors contributing to hand eczema in hospital "wet" workers.
- To assess the prevalence of contact sensitivity and contact urticaria in this occupational group.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 142 hospital "wet" workers with hand eczema was studied.
- Patch testing was performed on 120 patients, and prick testing on 41 patients with a history of contact urticaria.
- Patient-reported exposure to irritants like water, cleaning agents, and gloves was recorded.
Main Results:
- 92.3% of cases reported irritant factors eliciting hand eczema, with significant exposure occurring at home or during leisure.
- Delayed contact sensitivity was found in 45 patients, with nickel, cobalt, balsam of Peru, and rubber chemicals as common allergens.
- Positive prick tests for contact urticaria were observed in 22 patients, often related to foods or rubber gloves.
Conclusions:
- Endogenous factors and exposure to trivial irritants appear to be more significant in the etiology of hand eczema than contact sensitivity or urticaria in this cohort.
- Occupational and non-occupational irritant exposures are critical factors in the development of hand eczema among hospital "wet" workers.