title: Clinical profile and quality of life of patients with occupational contact dermatitis from New Delhi, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data regarding occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) and its effect on quality of life (QOL) in India are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate patients with OCD and record the outcome of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with OCD were evaluated for severity of disease (by the use of physician global assessment) and its effect on QOL (by use of the Dermatology Life Quality Index) questionnaire) at the first visit and after 3 months of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 117 patients with OCD, hand eczema was present in 81.2%. Positive patch test reactions were found in 76%. The most common allergens were Parthenium hysterophorus and potassium dichromate. The most frequent diagnosis was occupational allergic contact dermatitis (OACD) (57%), caused by farming and construction work, followed by occupational irritant contact dermatitis (OICD) (24%), caused by wet work. Severe psychosocial distress was recorded in 62.5% of patients. After 3 months of treatment, 83% improved significantly, and 54% had improvement in QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Farmers were most frequently affected, followed by construction workers and housewives. OACD was found at a higher frequency than OICD. The most frequent allergens were Parthenium hysterophorus in farmers, potassium dichromate in construction workers, and vegetables in housewives. OCD has a significant impact on QOL. Patch testing, in addition to standard treatment, improves the outcome considerably.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Riti
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramam
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Gomathy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sethuraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Chander P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yadav
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010312:Parthenogenesis; D010328:Patch Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D000097762:Parthenium hysterophorus
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; C519376:Parthenium hysterophorus extract; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011192:Potassium Dichromate
keywords: occupational contact dermatitis; parthenium; potassium dichromate