title: Occupational contact dermatitis in 10,582 French patients reported between 2004 and 2007: a descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited epidemiological data are available in France for occupational contact dermatitis (OCD), a non- infectious inflammatory skin condition arising from direct skin contact with substances used in the workplace.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the occurrence of, and number of workdays lost to, OCD in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of all OCD declared by salaried workers and recognised as occupational disease in France over a 4-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  10,582 OCD cases were reported, representing 9.6% of all occupational diseases recognised. The estimated annual incidence of OCD recognised was 15.72/100,000 salaried workers (i.e. 146.87/100,000 employees for all occupational diseases). OCD cases were mainly in the construction and public works industries with 3,057 (36.7%) salaried workers affected. In the services sector, OCD predominantly affected employees aged less than 30 years (41%), particularly hairdressers (69%). OCD accounted for the loss of 395,069 working days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCD represents a significant public health problem in France, particularly for construction workers and hairdressers.
authors: Service de Dermatologie, Institut Alfred Fournier, Paris, France. haliouab@yahoo.fr
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Halioua
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bensefa-Colas
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bouquiaux
authors: M N
authors: MN
authors: Crépy
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Assier
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Billon
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Chosidow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D055815:Young Adult