OCCUPATIONAL ECZEMA AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY AND ANDROLOGY ATTHE UNIVERSITY-OF-GIESSEN 1980-1989 - 10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

From 1980 to 1989 364 patients with occupational eczema received exper t opinions: 249 were ''basically'' accepted or ''refused with effect'' . Only 31 persons were compensated the first time. In males, the main part was represented by members of construction and metal industry pro fessions, in females by those of hairstylists, medical nursing and dom estic occupations. Allergy received special emphasis in eczema develop ment in construction, hairstylists, medical, nursing, plastic and rubb er industry professions. Non-allergic mechanisms were dominant in such as irritant contact dermatitis and atopic disposition were dominant i n persons occupied in domestics and the metal industry. Maximum compen sations were paid in the construction trade. A distinct peak in age of concerned persons was noticed in the youngest group - those between 2 1 and 30 years of age. Highly specific professional allergens were pot assium dichromate (construction), PPD (hairstylists), rubber chemicals (rubber industry), and epoxy resin (plastic industry). Rather monoton ously, nickel allergy is present throughout all professions with a dis tinct priority among hairstylists, where the professional specificity had to be examined in each case. Pronounced long-term professional his tories are typical in the construction industry, the shortest were fou nd among hairstylists. At the regular re-examination about 1.5 years a fter job change, 75% of concerned persons had no skin problems or were markedly improved; however, 25% showed no significant improvement. Hi gh rates of healing or improvement resulted in the rubber and metal in dustry, among hairstylists, medical and nursing professions, less in c onstruction workers and domestic employees.