ROLE OF PATCH TEST IN CONTACT DERMATITIS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY: JAIPUR

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory response of the skin to an exogenous substance (irritant and/or allergen).It can be classified as follows: Irritant contact dermatitis, Allergic contact dermatitis, Photo contact, phototoxic dermatitis, Immediate contact reactions, Non-eczematous reactions Only the superficial regions of the skin are affected in contact dermatitis.Inflammation of the affected tissue is present in the epidermis and the outer dermis. 1 Unlike contact urticaria, in which a rash appears within minutes of exposure and fades away within minutes to hours, contact dermatitis takes days to appear.In our study we have shown the list of most common allergens found positive in our patients.STUDY DESIGN: It was a cross sectional study.METHOD: Study was conducted in mahatma Gandhi hospital Jaipur over a period of 4 months of duration.Patients suspected to have contact dermatitis were subjected to patch testing.Based on the history clinical signs and symptoms.Total 42 patients were short listed in 4 months of duration.RESULT: Our study showed that the most common allergen showing patch test positivity in both males and females were nickel sulphate, cophony, and cobalt sulphate.Patients showed significant improvement in their dermatitis after avoidance of the offending agent.CONCLUSION: Patch test is the method of choice and the "gold standard" in the detection of contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis.INTRODUCTION: Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory response of the skin to an exogenous substance (irritant and/or allergen).It can be classified as follows: