Miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners

This report documents a case series of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in miners at a deep underground metalliferous mine in tropical arid Australia . During the summer months of February and March 1999, all cases of miliari a rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners seen at the mine's medical centre were clinically examined and administered a questionnaire. Twenty-f ive patients were seen. an incidence of 56.4 cases per million man-hours. M iliaria rubra was most often located between the ankle and knee (88% of cas es). Twenty-four percent had concurrent folliculitis and 20% had concurrent tinea. Thirty-two percent had a personal history of asthma. Walking throug h ground-water and splashing of the legs was common. Three to 4 weeks of se dentary duties in air conditioning was generally required to achieve resolu tion of miliaria rubra. The incidence of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs is 38% of the incidence of heat exhaustion at the same mine. The length of disablement is greater, however. Atopics may be at increased risk of miliar ia rubra. Control measures are discussed.