Contact dermatitis in the building sector in Morocco.

Building and public works, an important economic sector in Morocco, is also responsible for a large number of occupational dermatoses. A cross-section al epidemiological survey was conducted in order to evaluate the prevalence of occupational dermatoses in this sector, to study the various clinical a nd aetiological forms, to identify possible predisposing factors and to ass ess the efficacy or at least the adoption of preventive measures. It was ba sed on 108 male workers. The study protocol comprised a standardized contac t dermatitis questionnaire, clinical examination of the skin and skin patch tests to a standard battery of allergens. 62 % of subjects had occupied th eir job for more than ten years. 99 subjects (91.6 %) had a cutaneous abnor mality, including 34 subjects (31.4 %) with contact dermatitis, allergic in 44.1 % of cases and irritative in 55.9 % of cases. The hands and feet were most frequently affected. The clinical features were polymorphic with a pr edominance of keratotic, fissured and dyshidrotic lesions due to their chro nicity. Skin patch tests performed in subjects with contact dermatitis were positive to chromium in 15 cases, nickel in 7 cases, thiuram in 7 cases an d PPD, cobalt, formaldehyde, rubber, lanoline, ethylenediamine, quaternium, isothiazolinone, MBT and primine. The prevention of occupational dermatose s in this sector is based on improvement of working conditions on building sites and the introduction of adapted medical surveillance. 19 of the 35 oc cupational diseases compensated in Morocco consist of occupational dermatos es and 6 of them concern building and public works.