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Document ID (ISN)76301
CIS number 01-505
ISSN - Serial title 0105-1873 - Contact Dermatitis
Year 2000
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Lindberg M., Silverdahl M.
Title The use of protective gloves and the prevalence of hand eczema, skin complaints and allergy to natural rubber latex among dental personnel in the county of Uppsala, Sweden
Bibliographic information July 2000, Vol.43, No.1, p.4-8. 27 ref.
Abstract To evaluate the prevalence of acrylate allergy and natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy among dentists, dental nurses and dental hygienists were given a self-administered questionnaire. The most common problem among the 527 respondents was dry skin, fissures and/or itching of the hands. Of the 72 persons reporting to have suffered from hand eczema during the past 12 months, 41 were patch tested. In the patch-tested group, 9.8% reacted to one or more of the acrylates. In addition, 389 persons were tested for NRL allergy with the Pharmacia Upjohn CAP-RAST test, and of these, 7.2% were found to be positive. The prevalence of self-reported hand eczema and the number of positive CAP-RAST tests differed between the 3 occupations, with higher figures for the dentists. There was also a correlation between atopic eczema and hand eczema. Of those reporting skin symptoms, 67.7% associated them with the workplace and 28.8% with the use of gloves.
Descriptors (primary) protective gloves; allergens; dental services; skin diseases; eczema; latex
Descriptors (secondary) Sweden; acrylates; skin allergies; frequency rates; questionnaire survey; skin tests; individual susceptibility; hand
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceSweden
Subject(s) Medicine, hygiene and first aid
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Health care services
Hand and arm protection
Skin diseases