[Hand dermatitis in medical personnel]

Abstract

Eczema (dermatitis) of the hands of medical personnel is a common skin disease. Occupational dermatitis of the hands arises from frequent contact with irritants and sensitizing agents. Differential diagnosis in hand eczema is usually only possible from the case history. One diagnostic tool is the screening of relevant contact allergies by patch-testing. The most frequent allergen in 114 cases of eczema of the hands in medical personnel between 1976 and 1980 at the Department of Dermatology and Allergology of the Municipal Hospital Schwabing in Munich was formaldehyde in 24 instances (i.e. 21%), thiuram mix in 18 (i.e. 16%) and nickel sulfate in 15 (i.e. 13%).