Dermatoses among poultry slaughterhouse workers

Abstract

A survey on the incidence of occupational dermatoses among poultry slaughterhouse workers, who, in order to do their work more efficiently, protected their hands only with cotton gloves, revealed that many workers had dermatoses of the hands. Their symptoms included maceration, erosio interdigitalis, paronychia, trichophytia unguium, and eczema, presumably caused by the constant wetness of their hands during work. Candida albicans was detected in the ungual lesions of some patients. A second survey including a skin examination was performed at a plant where preventive measures such as better working gloves and improved sanitary conditions had been implemented because of the high incidence of skin disorders. The results of this survey showed marked improvement in the reduction of the incidence of dermatoses.