HAND ECZEMA IN FINNISH FARMERS - A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED CLINICAL-STUDY

In a population of 2005 Finnish farmers, 172 (8.6%) reported hand or f orearm dermatoses in a self-administered questionnaire. 138 (80%) of t hem attended a clinical examination. Skin prick tests (SPTs) were done to 80% and patch tests (PTs) to 77% of the examined farmers. 93% of h and dermatoses were eczema and 70% were considered work-related. Cow a llergy was found in 41 of 104 prick- and patch-tested farmers (39%). I mmediate allergy to cow epithelium was encountered in a total of 28/41 , in 20 with SPTs, and in 8 only with 20 min PTs. Delayed contact alle rgy to cow dander was found in 27/41. The result suggests that in addi tion to SPTs using commercial cow epithelium extract, PTs using fresh cow dander should also be done, and both immediate and delayed respons es should be read.