title: Oral hyposensitization in patients with contact dermatitis from Parthenium hysterophorus.
abstract: Parthenium hysterophorus is the commonest cause of airborne contact dermatitis in northern India. Treatment is mostly palliative and consists of repeated courses of antihistamines and topical and/or systemic corticosteroids. We have evaluated the effect of oral hyposensitization as an alternative therapeutic modality. In 70% of those patients who completed the study, there was a gradual improvement in their clinical status, as evident from a fall in their clinical severity score for eczema. 30% of patients had an exacerbation during the course of the study and hence hyposensitization in them was stopped. Patients tolerated therapy well and no significant side-effects were seen, except for abdominal pain, 'heartburn' and cheilitis.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Handa
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Sahoo
authors: V K
authors: VK
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C022097:parthenin