PROGNOSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL CONTACT-DERMATITIS IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES, AUSTRALIA

570 patients with occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) were seen between 1984 and 1990 at the Skin and Cancer Foundation in Sydney. 336 (59%) were followed up 1 to 5 years later. Roughly 1/3 were healed, 1/3 were improved without complete healing, 1/4 had no change and 1/12 of the patients had deteriorated. The overall improvement rate was in excess of 70%. Data derived from these patients demonstrated that changing the work duties of patients with OCD improved their outcome (p < 0.01), whilst leaving the industry altogether resulted in a greater overall healing rate (p < 0.01). No difference existed between the outcome of irritant contact dermatitis compared with allergic contact dermatitis. Atopics as expected had a worse prognosis. The outcome in the construction industry was significantly poorer than other industries. Patients suffering from allergic contact dermatitis from chromate also had a dismal prognosis.