Epidemiological Study of Occupational Dermatitis

Occupational skin disease are classified into four major categories of potentially hazardous exposures which are mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological factor. The aim of the study was to give an epidemiological overview of of occupational skin diseases in Elbasani district. This is a prospective study, of 932 patients presenting to the Dermatologic Clinic in Elbasan district, over the period 2010-2012. The mean age of patients was 40.213.2 years old (range 20 - 64). More affected by contact dermatitis were females with (60 %) cases compared to men (40 %) of total cases. The ratio women/men was 1.51. The most common occupational disease was irritant contact dermatitis (46.7 %) patients, allergic in (45.4 %), photoallergic in (4.3 %) and contact urticaria in (3.6 %) patients. Building materials (27 %), plants (26 %), and cosmetic (12 %) were the most frequent etiological factors. The area most affected were the hands (52 %), legs (16 %) and the face (13 %). Contact dermatitis is a frequent occupational dermatosis in our patient population. Irritant contact dermatitis is more common than allergic contact dermatitis.