Abstract

GRANADOS RINCON, Carolina; MACHADO BENAVIDES, Nelly; RODRIGUES-BARATA, Ana Rita  and  CONDE-SALAZAR GOMEZ, Luis. Patch testing in occupational medicine. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2013, vol.59, n.230, pp.74-84. ISSN 1989-7790.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0465-546X2013000100004.

In occupational medicine, occupational dermatoses account for 30 to 60% of the total amount of occupational diseases and, within 80 to 90% of them correspond to contact dermatitis. This high number is not reflected in official data because in most cases, as conditions of rapid resolution or low systemic impact, they are not declared. Regarding contact dermatitis, the most common type in the workplace is the allergic type, which preferably is declared, because often results in disability. For the correct diagnosis and association with the work environment is essential to make a full history of the patient' occupational background, correct description of the skin lesions, and the use of diagnostic methods other than those of non-cutaneous processes, such as patch testing. They provide a simple, accessible and safe method for the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. They include a standard national baseline series, proper of the country where the patient works, and additional extended series, specific to the occupation performed by the worker. Prevention at work is the only etiological treatment for replacement and control of occupational hazards associated with occupational skin diseases.

Keywords : Occupational skin disease; patch testing; skin test; contact dermatitis; occupational dermatology.

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