Alérgenos en la dermatitis de contacto alérgica de origen laboral / Allergens in occupational allergic contact dermatitis

Introducción: Las dermatosis profesionales tienen una alta incidencia, lo que conlleva considerables consecuencias médicas y laborales. Objetivos: Describir las características de la población afectada por dermatitis de contacto alérgica de origen laboral y los alérgenos responsables. Material y Métodos: Durante cinco años se incluyó a todos los pacientes diagnosticados de Dermatitis de Contacto Alérgica en una consulta de Dermatología en un hospital de referencia, con positividad a al menos un alérgeno presente en su puesto de trabajo. Resultados: En sector de cosmética el 93,7% fue causada por acrilatos, en peluquería un 72,7% fue causada por PPDA, en alimentación un 63,3% de los alérgenos fueron productos alimentarios, en construcción el 60% fueron causadas por cemento y en industria PPDA causó un 30%. Las manos fueron la principal área corporal afectada en todos los grupos laborales. Conclusión: parece recomendable mejorar la coordinación entre los facultativos de Medicina del Trabajo y de atención primaria con los facultativos dermatólogos, estableciéndose protocolos de actuación conjuntos que permitan disponer de un diagnóstico definitivo en el menor tiempo posible (AU)

Introduction: The occupational dermatosis have a high incidence, leading to considerable medical and occupational consequences. Objectives: Describe the characteristics of the population affected by allergic contact dermatitis of labor origin and allergens responsible. Methods: During 5 years, all Allergic Contact Dermatitis were includedat the time of diagnosis, on a Dermatology outpatient department in a tertiary hospital, with positivity for at least 1 allergen present in their workplace. Results: In Cosmetics a 93.7% was caused by acrylates, in Hairdressing a 72.7% was caused by PPDA in Food Workers 63.3% of allergens were food products, in Construction a 60% were caused by cement and in Industry PPDA caused a 30%. The hands were the main body area affected in all labor groups. Conclusions: it seems to need an improvement about the communication and protocols between Occupational Medicine, Family Medicine and Dermatology to short the time of the diagnosis of these occupational diseases (AU)

Are skin prick tests really safe? A case of anaphylaxis caused by skin prick testing with inhalant allergens

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Allergy skin testing: what nurses need to know.

Skin testing is a common procedure in any clinical setting. Critical care nurses will encounter skin testing in the inpatient and outpatient settings primarily to test for patient allergies to environmental factors, or allergies to certain medications. As there is a great deal of controversy about standard practices surrounding the different tests, information about various allergy tests and testing protocols is vital. Quality assurance standards should be met to ensure adequacy of the skin testing technique. Persons performing skin tests should undergo evaluation of their technique. To improve the predictive values of skin testing, and to ameliorate the incidence or severity of adverse affects, it is important for the critical care nurse to understand the dynamics of the test and the possible risks, along with variables that can confound the results. By doing this, nurses will improve not only patient outcomes related to the testing itself but also the value and reliability of the most effective diagnostic tool available for allergic disease.

Diagnostic testing for inhalant allergies.

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most commonly treated disorders seen in otolaryngology office settings. It is often difficult to distinguish the symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis from other causes of rhinitis. Many times these nasal symptoms can be effectively treated using nonspecific pharmacotherapeutic agents in conjunction with general information on ways to reduce exposure to allergens or irritants in the environment. When allergic rhinitis is suspected and a targeted treatment approach is needed, allergy testing can confirm the diagnosis and guide effective treatment for the condition. This paper discusses various methods for diagnosing inhalant allergies with a special focus on a newer approach to skin testing, known as modified quantitative testing or MQT. This paper also presents an overview of the immune response as it occurs in allergic rhinitis, along with a discussion of common inhalant allergens. Finally, this paper offers a general approach to allergy testing and patient preparation.

Skin testing technique and precision in stinging insect allergy.

AIM: We report on quantitative analysis of skin tests in patients undergoing Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy. The need for accuracy, coupled with a sound manual technique, in performing this procedure is emphasized. Involuntary errors may occur and pose serious problems with interpretation of results. A revealing example is reported and the strategy devised to analyse the flaws and overcome the resulting problems is presented and discussed. BACKGROUND: Skin testing plays a key role in the diagnosis of most allergic disease and in the assessment of allergen immunotherapy. Particularly, insect sting allergy requires implementation of complex and demanding skin testing protocols and a competent nursing practice. METHODS: Sixteen patients were tested before starting the immunotherapy and after three years of treatment. Cutaneous response (expected to decline, following immunotherapy) was assessed as: (i) allergen-elicited wheal areas; (ii) ratios between allergen-elicited wheal areas and homologous histamine (positive controls) wheal areas. RESULTS: By using allergen-elicited areas, the paradoxical result was obtained that skin reactivity had increased instead of decreasing, upon immunotherapy. Histamine response analysis suggested that this paradox might rather be the result of a technical flaw. Analysis of written notes of routine clinical meetings revealed that an important manual flaw had been detected (and corrected) some years earlier, affecting the results of the baseline testing (viz. the allergen was injected deeper in the skin, yielding a weaker response). Skin reactivity evaluation in terms of allergen-histamine ratio confirmed this interpretation, as, when the baseline ratios were compared with the three years immunotherapy ratios, a distinct decline in skin reactivity was detected, as expected. CONCLUSIONS: Skin testing in insect sting allergy is a conceptually and manually complex procedure, which should be subjected to systematic quality control assessment, like a laboratory procedure. The personnel involved in the performance of this procedure should receive appropriate and extensive training. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Diagnosis of allergic diseases and monitoring of immunotherapy largely rely on impeccable skin testing technique.

A nurse-led clinic in chronic and allergic contact dermatitis.

It has generally been acknowledged that the incidence and prevalence of contact dermatitis has increased in recent years. It can develop at any stage of a person's life span (rare before puberty), and in many different circumstances and occupations. The demand on consultant dermatologists for contact dermatitis services has resulted in the depletion of some essential components to the investigation process, and patient outcomes have been affected. In recent years it has also resulted in the development of nurse-led contact dermatitis services. The traditional role of the dermatology nurse in contact dermatitis is to carry out patch testing. Nurse-led services require the wider acquisition of skills and knowledge in relation to contact dermatitis. This article is an attempt to introduce the complexities of contact dermatitis, and nurse-led services.