The survey was carried out between January 1988 and June 1990. It consisted in a clinical and allergological study of 1489 housewives, 880 of which had contact dermatitis at their hands. (group of "cases"). The other 609 represented the control group. The anamnesis was gathered with a guided questionnaire: the questions concerned familiar and personnel pathology, use of detergents and cosmetics, use of means of prevention and therapies. Patch tests with haptens of GIRDCA series and with the most common detergent components were performed. In 98% of cases hands were the lace of beginning of symptoms; in the group of "cases" 46% were positive to at least one patch test. Nickel sulphate gave positivities in the 28% of cases. Results of the search of this metal (and of chrome and cobalt) in detergents are described. Other possible occasions of contact are described. Other causes of sensitization are represented by rubber additives, by perfumes and by preservatives. Cutipositivities for detergents are very really limited. Means of protection, in particular barrier creams, are described as scarcely used.

Dermatitis, Contact↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Allergic diseases caused by pesticides: 3 case reports].

Current pesticide exposure levels can induce a state of sensitization in exposed workers and only in exceptional situations cause severe intoxication. Three cases are reported--one suffering from urticaria/angio-edema, one from asthma and the other from oculo-rhinitis. Only one subject was atopical. The substances to which sensitization was found were Cynoxamil, Mancozeb, Thiophanate, Seccatutto for the first case, Paraquat for the second and Dodine for the third subject. The results suggest the need to extend allergological tests also to pesticides when workers, or subjects in any case exposed, show clinical signs with suspected immunological pathogenesis. Furthermore, in order to reduce the number of new cases of pesticide allergy, a more severe control also of subjects exposed to low doses is proposed.

Angioedema↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Allergic pathology due to enzymes: a case report of asthma due to pectinase (polygalacturonase)].

The paper described the case of a worker handling pectinase, an enzyme used in the manufacture of food additives. This enzyme is a carbohydrase (polygalacturonase) obtained by extraction, and consists of three active phases. After little more than a year at the job, the subject complained of bouts of asthma, especially when she had to weigh the enzyme in dust form. Symptoms appeared even when this operation was performed by others near her work station. An allergological examination revealed skin hypersensitivity to the enzyme, without atopy. The methods of preparing the tests performed are described. The authors stress the need to perform similar investigations on other exposed workers in order to assess the allergogenic potential of the substance and adjust environmental preventive measures accordingly.

Adult↗