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Relationships Between Age, Sex, History of Exposure, and Reactivity to Standard Patch Tests and Use Tests in a General Population

Stephen D. Prystowsky, MD; Alfred M. Allen, MD; Ronald W. Smith; John H. Nonomura; Richard B. Odom, MD; William A. Akers, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1979;115(8):959-962.

Abstract
A study population of 1,158 paid adult volunteers was obtained. Prior to patch testing, a history of previous exposure to four allergens also was obtained. Prevalence of positive reactions to patch tests was nickel, 5.8%; neomycin, 1.1%; ethylenediamine, 0.43%; and benzocaine, 0.17%. Nine percent of women reacted to nickel compared with 0.9% of men. There was a strong correlation of nickel sensitivity with a history of pierced ears, earlobe rash, and jewelry rash. Ten of 12 neomycin-positive subjects used neomycin for one week or longer on an inflammatory dermatosis, compared with six of 36 age-, race-, and sex-matched controls. By history, 85% were exposed to benzocaine, 48% to neomycin, and 15% to Mycolog (ethylenediamine). Of 127 patients referred to clinics for evaluation of contact dermatitis, 11% yielded positive tests to nickel, 6.3% to neomycin, 3.1% to ethylenediamine, and 1.6% to benzocaine. Data obtained from testing contact dermatitis patients are not applicable to the general population.

(Arch Dermatol 115:959-962, 1979)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Dermatology Research, Letterman Army Institute of Research (Drs Prystowsky, Allen, and Akers and Messrs Smith and Nonomura); Dermatology Service, Letterman Army Medical Center (Dr Odom), Presidio of San Francisco; and Department of Dermatology, University of California (Dr Prystowsky), San Francisco.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 13, 1978.

Reprint requests to 325 Marks Rd, Danville, CA 94526 (Dr Prystowsky).

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