Pesticide contact dermatitis in fruit and vegetable farmers of Himachal Pradesh (India).
BACKGROUND
Not many studies on pesticide allergic contact dermatitis are available from Himachal Pradesh (India).


OBJECTIVE
We studied the role of commonly used pesticides in causing allergic contact dermatitis in fruit and vegetable farmers in the region.


METHODS
30 fruit and vegetable farmer patients having dermatitis involving face, neck, hands, and feet and 20 controls comprising 2 groups of 10 subjects each: Group-1 had history of exposure to pesticides but no dermatitis and Group-2 having neither dermatitis nor history of exposure to pesticides, were patch tested with 10 most common pesticides used in the region.


CONCLUSIONS
These 30 patients (M : F 21 : 9) were between 22-81 years of age having dermatitis for 4 days to 20 years with relapses and remissions. 21 patients had seasonal exacerbation. 10 patients attributed exacerbation of dermatitis to exposure to pesticides. Positive patch test reactions from pesticides were observed in 8 patients only. Captan was the most common sensitizer (5 patients), 2 patients were sensitive to propargite. Chlorpyrifos, tree spray oil and thiuram gave positive reaction in 1 patient each. 3 controls from Group-1 showed positive reactions to multiple pesticides. Pesticide related contact dermatitis appears more common than expected.
Verma
Ghanshyam
G
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Sharma
Nand Lal
NL
Shanker
Vinay
V
Mahajan
Vikram K
VK
Tegta
Gita Ram
GR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014675:Vegetables
D000485:Allergens; D010575:Pesticides