[Frequency of contact allergy in housewives (author's transl)]

A survey was taken of 616 housewives with a total of 1405 positive reactions in the patch tests. These women belong to a group of 3300 patients who showed contact allergic reactions in the patch test during the period between 1970 and 1974. The highest rate of sensitivity was found in the group of housewives in the age group over 60. The most common allergens of the housewives have been: p-aminodiphenylamin. Peruvian balsam, lanolin alcohol. Specific differences between men and women in the allergen spectrum are the following: in men there was a strong tendency to be allergic to potassium dichromate, and in women the allergic tendency was to nickel sulphate. Among the housewives no special preference toward allergies to nickel sulphate and potassium dichromate was observed.