Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from tetrazepam in nurses.
BACKGROUND
Tetrazepam is a muscle relaxant belonging to the benzodiazepine group. Drug eruptions following ingestion of tetrazepam tablets are well known.


OBJECTIVE
To draw the attention to occupational airborne dermatitis and/or hand dermatitis in nurses resulting from crushing of tablets for elderly or disabled people.


METHODS
Since 2003, 16 nurses with facial (eyelid) and/or hand dermatitis, suspected to be of occupational origin, were patch tested with the medication they handled during work.


RESULTS
Ten nurses presented with a positive patch test reaction to tablets containing tetrazepam, 14 controls remaining negative. Some of them also reacted to other drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Occupational airborne and/or hand contact dermatitis from tetrazepam might be much more common than suspected by dermatologists, particularly in view of the short period in which all cases have been observed.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, K.U.Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Kim
K
Vander Hulst
Stefan
S
Kerre
An
A
Goossens
D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010328:Patch Tests
D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C005245:tetrazepam