Abstract
Between August 2, 1987 and July 30, 1989 1,579 patients with suspect allergic contact dermatitis were assessed of whom 288 were deemed to have work-related dermatitis. They were less likely to have atopic dermatitis but no more or less likely to have cutaneous allergy. Hand involvement was much more likely in the work-related cases (odds ratio [OR] = 6.3) when age, sex, diagnosis, and location were adjusted for using logistic regression. Rubber components, rosin, epoxy resin, and paraphenylenediamine patch test responses were all overrepresented in the work-related cases. With logistic regression analysis mercaptobenzothiazole (OR = 3.3) and wool wax alcohol (OR = 3.1) were associated with work-relatedness. We were unable to relate atopic dermatitis to occupational association or to irritant contact dermatitis.
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