[Nickel eczema in young girls. Contribution to the question of the predictive patch test and the prevention of occupational diseases].
This is a review on contact allergy to nickel, based on the new literature (56 references) and our own case studies of 29 patients. The great majority of persons having an eczematous reaction to nickel are women. To what extent these allergies are due to occupation or to constant contact with nickel-containing articles such as buckles , jeans buttons and jewelry is examined in detail. An opinion is given as to whether nickel eczema should be recognized as an occupational disease. Its importance in selecting one's profession is also discussed. The professions which frequently bring one into contact with nickel are summarized on a table. The various localisations and their causes are included on another table. The cases analyzed here indicate that nearly all patients with nickel eczema acquired their contact allergy outside their occupations, often before they had even entered professional life. It is therefore very important for one entering a "nickel profession" to be given a predictive test for nickel allergy, but above all to be inquired as to any eczematous conditions the prospective employee has experienced previously.