ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The first multicenter study on standard patenest results(1983-1986) was tried in Korea. Since then 10 years have elapsed and epidemiologi al data need be updated continuously. OBJECTIVE: To register and compile the results of patch the ig throughout the country and to compare the positivity ard trend with those of previous study. METHODS: Standard patch testings were performed using irachamper on Scanpor tape. The results were analysed by a personal computer program. RESULTS: A total of 2326 patch tested cases(male 539, female 1787) were compiled and analysed. The highest ag distribution was 3rd decade. As the job distribution, housewives and office workers were the mast frequent consisting 33.4% and 12.1% respectively. The face was the most frequently affected site comprising 49.6%. The highesteritization rates were foud with nickel(17.9%), cobalt(13.8%), fragrance mix(12.9%), potass ur dichromate(11.3%), ammoniated mercury(8.7%), neoaycin(7.2%). The lowest positivity inclured black rubber mix(1.0%), primin (1.2%), ethylenediarnine(1.3%), carba mix(1.4%), While nicel epoxy resin and 4-t-butylphenol formaldehyde resin showed increased reactivities, PPD, bacrubber mix, balsam of Peru, quaternium 15, ammceniatct mercury and captan showd a deceased tendency when compared with those of previous study. CONCLUSION: The large scale studies of epidemiology in cortat dermatitis have been performed and they need to be updated and analysed consecutively in the future.