Skin lesions due to okra(Hibiscus esculentus L.). A field survey of skin lesions in workers cultivating okra / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of skin lesions in workers cultivating okra (<I>Hibiscus esculentus</I> L.) was studied by a field survey. Questionnaire and physical examinations including patch tests with preparations of okra pods were carried out.<BR>Out of 89 workers, 48 (53.9%) reported to have history of skin lesions. The sites of skin lesions were mainly arms (43.8%), dorsal regions of hands (35.4%), neck (33.3%), fingers and fingertips (each 29.2%). Concerning the symptoms of the skin lesions, itching (85.4%) and flare (45.8%) were dominant on picking work, and vanishing fingerprints and fissures on fingers on packing work. These clinical signs appeared shortly after the workers set to work without protective means.<BR>Positive reactions of the patch tests with preparations of okra pods were found in 11 out of 89 okra workers (12.4%). The positive rate in non-okra workers was 3.4%. The results indicated that skin lesions due to okra were caused by primary irritation and allergic sensitization.