Biomaterial Database

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. 1996

L Kanerva, and T Estlander, and R Jolanki

Section of Dermatology, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland.

About 1000 patients were investigated at our clinic during 1991-1995 for occupational skin disease, and 5 had occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. The patients were chefs, or kitchen, coffee room, and restaurant workers. All patients had hand (or finger) dermatitis. The causative spices were: garlic, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and clove. The same patients also had allergic patch test reactions to foods: tomato, lettuce and carrot. Paprika elicited a weak allergic patch test reaction in 2 patients. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices is relatively rare, but needs to be taken into consideration in patients who have hand dermatitis, and work with spices and foods. Patch testing with spices as is is useful, but testing with dilutions in pet, may be needed to confirm that the patch test reactions are allergic. Patients also need to be prick tested with spices and foods.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009783	Dermatitis, Occupational	A recurrent contact dermatitis caused by substances found in the work place.	Occupational Dermatitis,Dermatosis, Industrial,Industrial Dermatosis,Dermatitides, Occupational,Dermatoses, Industrial,Industrial Dermatoses,Occupational Dermatitides
D010328	Patch Tests	Skin tests in which the sensitizer is applied to a patch of cotton cloth or gauze held in place for approximately 48-72 hours. It is used for the elicitation of a contact hypersensitivity reaction.	Patch Testing,Patch Test,Patch Testings,Test, Patch,Testing, Patch,Testings, Patch,Tests, Patch
D010946	Plants, Medicinal	Plants whose roots, leaves, seeds, bark, or other constituent parts possess therapeutic, tonic, purgative, curative or other pharmacologic attributes, when administered to man or animals.	Herbs, Medicinal,Medicinal Herbs,Healing Plants,Medicinal Plants,Pharmaceutical Plants,Healing Plant,Herb, Medicinal,Medicinal Herb,Medicinal Plant,Pharmaceutical Plant,Plant, Healing,Plant, Medicinal,Plant, Pharmaceutical,Plants, Healing,Plants, Pharmaceutical
D012147	Restaurants	An establishment where meals are cooked, sold and served to customers.	Restaurant
D002212	Capsicum	A plant genus of the family SOLANACEAE. The hot peppers yield CAPSAICIN, which activates VANILLOID RECEPTORS. Several varieties have sweet or pungent edible fruits that are used as vegetables when fresh and spices when the pods are dried.	Bell Pepper,Cayenne Pepper,Chili Pepper,Chilli Pepper,Green Pepper,Jalapeno Pepper,Paprika,Pimiento,Red Pepper,Capsicum annuum,Cayenne,Chile Pepper,Hot Pepper,Sweet Pepper,Bell Peppers,Cayenne Peppers,Chile Peppers,Chili Peppers,Chilli Peppers,Green Peppers,Hot Peppers,Jalapeno Peppers,Pepper, Bell,Pepper, Cayenne,Pepper, Chile,Pepper, Chili,Pepper, Chilli,Pepper, Green,Pepper, Hot,Pepper, Jalapeno,Pepper, Red,Pepper, Sweet,Peppers, Bell,Peppers, Cayenne,Peppers, Chile,Peppers, Chili,Peppers, Chilli,Peppers, Green,Peppers, Hot,Peppers, Jalapeno,Peppers, Red,Peppers, Sweet,Red Peppers,Sweet Peppers
D002935	Cinnamomum zeylanicum	The tree which is known for its bark which is sold as cinnamon. The oil contains about 65-80% cinnamaldehyde and 10% EUGENOL and many TERPENES.	Cinnamon,Cinnamomum verum,Cinnamons
D003296	Cooking	The art or practice of preparing food. It includes the preparation of special foods for diets in various diseases.	Cookery
D005260	Female		Females