Abstract

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis cases who had visited the patch test clinics of Seoul National University Hospital(1984-1988) and Koryo General Hospital(1982-1988) were analyzed in this study. Patch test was performed with either Hollister-Stier standard battery or European standard battery in addition to the patients own materials and other commercially available antigens. Patch test was peformed according to the recommendation of International Contact Dermatitis Research Group. The result is summarized as follows. 1. Out of 946 cases 65 (6.9%) were suspected as having occupational dermatoses clinically and 35 (3.7%) were diagnosed as occupational allergic contact dermtitis after patch test. 2. Sixteen (45.7%) out of the 35 patients were male and 19 (54.3%) were female. Twenty one (60.0%) patients were in the age of 20 to 40 years. 3. The occupational distribution of 35 patients were medical personnels (8), cement workers (7), industrial workers (5), hair dressers (5), farmers (3), merchants (3), cooks (2) and painters (2). 4. Potassium dichromate, nickel sulfate and rubber chemicals were the most common occupational allergens. We also reviewed the Korean literatures related to the occupational dermatoses.

• Keywords: occupational dermatitis;patch test