Occupational contact urticaria and protein contact dermatitis: causes and concomitant airway diseases.

Background: Contact urticaria (CU) and protein contact dermatitis (PCD) are mainly induced by an immediate, IgE-mediated immunological mechanism. Immediate sensitization is also linked to asthma and/or allergic rhinitis.

Objectives: To report causes of work-induced CU and PCD, and to evaluate the occurrence of concomitant airway diseases.

Prick testing with chemicals in the diagnosis of occupational contact urticaria and respiratory diseases.

Background: Little is known about the use of prick tests with chemicals in diagnosing occupational diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the use of prick tests in the diagnosis of occupational contact urticaria, asthma and rhinitis caused by chemicals (undertaken at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patient and test files for the period 1 January 1991 to 31 May 2011.

Occupational asthma, rhinitis, and contact urticaria caused by oxidative hair dyes in hairdressers.

Background: Oxidative hair dyes commonly contain paraphenylene diamine (PPD) and its derivatives, a well-known cause of delayed hypersensitivity among both consumers and hairdressers. They are also considered possible causes of occupational respiratory diseases. Despite the widespread use of hair dyes, there are only a few reports of asthma, rhinitis, and contact urticaria caused by PPD and related compounds.

Short-term prognosis of occupational asthma in a Finnish population.

Background: Causative agents of occupational asthma (OA) are well described in literature but far less is known about factors affecting the outcome of OA. Short duration of exposure, early diagnosis when symptoms appear and further avoidance of exposure have been suggested as good prognostic factors. This study was designed to investigate a short-term outcome of OA.

Occupational contact urticaria caused by cyclic acid anhydrides.

Background: Cyclic acid anhydrides often cause allergic respiratory diseases, but contact urticaria because of these anhydrides has been considered rare.

Objective: We describe 21 patients diagnosed with occupational contact urticaria at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health during the period 1990-2006.

Method: Prick test with human serum albumin (HSA)-acid anhydride conjugates, determination of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), and open application were used in the diagnosis.

Audit of quality of diagnostic procedures for occupational asthma.

Background: Previous studies have reported deficiencies in the quality of the diagnosis of occupational asthma. A low quality of diagnostic procedures means that the occupational cause of asthma is less likely to be revealed.

Aims: To assess the current quality of the diagnosis of occupational asthma before referral to a specialist occupational medicine centre.