Pitfalls in the diagnosis of occupational contact dermatitis

Abstract

The diagnosis of an occupation-related allergic contact dermatitis can be missed in the various stages of the contact-allergy investigation: the history, the clinical symptoms and localization of the lesions, the skin testing, as well as the determination of the relevance of a positive test. Basic knowledge on the chemicals contacted is essential, which is not obvious in an occupational context. It is evident that the more experience the investigator has, the more accurately the allergens can be identified. The knowledge needs to be based on good training, keeping up with the literature, attending courses and meetings, and browsing relevant websites.