Clinical profile in 350 patients with contact dermatitis

In this study detailed clinical features in 350 patients with clinically suspected contact dermatitis, referred to Patch Test Clinic of our department, are presented. There were 234 females and 116 males (F:M=2:1), age range 12-75 years. Housewives constituted the major bulk (41.7%) of patients. 38.9% also had history of atopy. Mean duration of disease was 56.5±66 weeks. Itching was the most common symptom seen in 92.9% of patients. Common morphological types seen were, hand eczema (35.7%), shoe eczema (33.4%), facial dermatitis (11.3%). In 58.6% of patients, the disease started from hands or feet. The disease was episodic in 54.9%. The most common aggravating factor was seasonal variation seen in 40.3%. On patch testing 61.4% patients were found to be suffering from allergic contact dermatitis.