1/12. Galvanic urticaria.A variety of environmental stimuli, such as vibration, ultraviolet radiation, and exposure to water, are recognized as causes of "physical urticaria." A medical student, participating in a demonstration of a galvanic device used in the treatment of hyperhidrosis, demonstrated urticaria in response to this galvanic stimulation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/12. Occupational IgE-mediated allergy to tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle).BACKGROUND: We report on IgE-mediated allergy in a worker caused by tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle). These beetles lived in the "old" flour to which he was exposed in his work. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old, nonatopic mechanic in a rye crispbread factory developed rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthmatic symptoms, as well as urticaria on his wrists, lower arms, hands, neck, and face, during the maintenance and repair of machines contaminated by flour. This flour had been in and on the machines for a long time, and it contained small beetles. The patient did not suffer any symptoms when handling fresh, clean flour. RESULTS: Skin prick tests with standard environmental allergens, storage mites, enzymes, flours, and molds were negative. A prick test with flour from the machines gave a 10-mm reaction. An open application of the same flour caused urticarial whealing on the exposed skin. Prick tests with fresh flour from the factory were negative. A prick test with minced T. confusum from the flour in the machines gave a 7-mm reaction. Histamine hydrochloride 10 mg/ml gave a 7-mm reaction. Specific serum IgE antibodies to T. confusum were elevated at 17.2 kU/l. Prick tests with the flour from the machines were negative in five control patients. CONCLUSIONS: The patient had occupational contact urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthmatic symptoms from exposure to flour. His symptoms were caused by immediate allergy to the beetle T. confusum. Immediate allergy to this beetle has rarely been reported in connection with respiratory symptoms, but it may be more common. Contact urticaria from this source has not been reported before.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/12. A case of contact urticaria syndrome due to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP) in work clothes.We previously reported a case of contact urticaria syndrome (CUS) due to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP) in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) grip on cotton gloves. The patient reported in this previous paper was careful not to have any contact with PVC products in his daily life or in his working environment. He discontinued the use of protective gloves with a PVC grip that was the cause of CUS. When working, he used cotton gloves without a PVC grip. We prescribed antihistamines which slightly improved his condition. However, when he wore work clothes while on duty, CUS relapsed. This condition was severe and made him feel anxious. When we advised him to wear a cotton shirt under his work clothes, the contact urticaria did not develop. We suspected that some component of the work clothes was the cause of his symptoms. A prick test with the extract solution of his work clothes showed a wheal and flare at the 15 min reading. The common component of the grip and the work clothes was found by analysis to be DOP.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/12. Household papular urticaria.BACKGROUND: Papular urticaria often occurs after bites of insects such as mosquitoes, sandflies, bed bugs and fleas. Multiple bites and local pruritus are characteristic symptoms. Treatment is usually symptomatic and includes antihistamines and corticosteroids. The reappearance of the symptoms can be prevented by successful control of the parasite. OBJECTIVES: To find the causative agent of papular urticaria in afflicted households with involvement of numerous family members, all in a narrow geographic area. patients: We describe the cases of 20 patients belonging to seven families, who presented to the local primary clinic, suffering from papular urticaria. RESULTS: The cat flea, ctenocephalides felis, was the hematophagous insect responsible for all infestations. The pruritus and the papular urticaria were treated symptomatically with calamine lotion, topical corticosteroids or oral antihistamines. All clinical symptoms disappeared within a few weeks after effective control of the parasites by spraying and fumigating the infested locations. CONCLUSIONS: Thorough investigation--including, at times, environmental inspection--is necessary to reach the rewarding discovery of the etiology of household papular urticaria. This condition may arise in other environments of similar character.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/12. 5. Allergy and the skin: eczema and chronic urticaria.eczema is common, occurring in 15%-20% of infants and young children. For some infants it can be a severe chronic illness with a major impact on the child's general health and on the family. A minority of children will continue to have eczema as adults. The exact cause of eczema is not clear, but precipitating or aggravating factors may include food allergens (most commonly, egg) or environmental allergens/irritants, climatic conditions, stress and genetic predisposition. Management of eczema consists of education; avoidance of triggers and allergens; liberal use of emollients or topical steroids to control inflammation; use of antihistamines to reduce itch; and treatment of infection if present. Treatment with systemic agents may be required in severe cases, but must be supervised by an immunologist. urticaria ("hives") may affect up to a quarter of people at some time in their lives. Acute urticaria is more common in children, while chronic urticaria is more common in adults. Chronic urticaria is not life-threatening, but the associated pruritus and unsightly weals can cause patients much distress and significantly affect their daily lives. angioedema coexists with urticaria in about 50% of patients. It typically affects the lips, eyelids, palms, soles and genitalia. Management of urticaria is through education; avoidance of triggers and allergens (where relevant); use of antihistamines to reduce itch; and short-term use of corticosteroids when antihistamine therapy is ineffective. Referral is indicated for patients with resistant disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/12. Systemic cold urticaria in a five-year-old boy.A 5-year-old white boy had a history of generalized urticaria on total body exposure to a cold environment. Standard ice cube testing was negative. plasma analysis revealed the presence of cryofibrinogen. Systemic cold challenge with serial plasma assays for complement, histamine, and prostaglandin d2 disclosed an elevation and peak of plasma histamine and prostaglandin d2 levels after the onset of generalized urticaria with no change in serum complement levels.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/12. pseudomonas folliculitis acquired from a health spa whirlpool.Three cases of an unusual pseudomonas skin infection acquired from a health spa whirlpool were reported, and an epidemiologic survey showed 17 additional cases. This dermatosis is characterized by the abrupt onset of urticarial papules and superficial and deep papulopustules that spare only the head and neck and occur eight to 48 hours after using the whirlpool. Cultures from one patient's pustules and from the spa whirlpool environment were positive for P aeruginosa, serotype O-11. The condition cleared in all but one patient, without treatment, within seven to ten days. This patient continues to have recurrent follicular pustules three months after exposure. Samples from whirlpools at six other selected establishments were also positive for P aeruginosa.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/12. Low humidity occupational dermatoses.Two separate instances of dermatoses associated with low humidity in the working environment are reported. In such cases alternative explanations for the dermatoses are often considered and mistakenly adopted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/12. Environmentally induced cholinergic urticaria and anaphylaxis.Although urticaria is generally an uncomfortable condition, it is usually considered to be relatively benign. Recent evidence indicates that numerous environmental stimuli can initiate cholinergic urticaria, and severe systemic manifestations may be associated with the onset of the urticaria. exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a specific life-threatening reaction that has been documented to occur very unpredictably in susceptible individuals with cholinergic urticaria. The occurrence of severe hypotension, syncope, or laryngeal edema poses specific limitations to optimum performance should it occur in individuals employed in critical occupations. Although treatment with appropriate medications is generally effective in control of symptoms, these medications frequently have side effects not tolerable in high-risk situations. Four cases of U.S. air Force aircrewmen referred to the USAF School of Aerospace medicine for aeromedical evaluation illustrate the spectrum of problems that can be associated with cholinergic urticaria. exercise history should always be carefully evaluated in all individuals who present with urticaria.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/12. Identification of a new physically induced urticaria: cold-induced cholinergic urticaria.Four patients with symptoms suggestive of either cold urticaria or a combination of cold and cholinergic urticaria were studied. However, all patients were negative to an ice-cube test or cold-immersion test and had no urticaria after exercise in a warm environment. When each patient was seated in a cold room (4 degree C) for 5 to 15 min, generalized urticaria appeared, consisting of puncture wheals and surrounding erythema as seen in cholinergic urticaria. Two patients had weakly positive methacholine skin tests and the other two had completely negative tests. When serial venous blood samples were obtained to test for mediator release, three of four patients had evidence of histamine release and the time course was similar to that previously reported for patients with cholinergic urticaria. These four cases represent a new syndrome with features suggestive of cold and/or cholinergic urticaria, but the results of all the tests usually utilized to diagnose these conditions were negative. We have called this disorder cold-induced cholinergic urticaria to indicate that it is cold dependent and visually indistinguishable from cholinergic urticaria.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = environment (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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