Eczema/Dermatitis of the Hand a Crux of Patients and Physicians

Summary

Eczema/dermatitis of the band is a multifactorial chronic relapsing, irritating and frustrating disease which causes in productive age many health, psychosocial and socioeconomic problems. Recommended approaches include a morphogenetic analysis of lesions, best from the very beginning of the disease which is essential for the establishment of the occupational diagnosis, examination by epicutaneous, standard and special testy (workplace, hobby, local dermatotherapy), allergological examination to rule out atopy, common mycological, possible bacteriological and histopathological examinations.Morphogenetic analysis alone is not sufficient for assessment of the diagnosis and it mast be validated by examination and a new tase-history. The greatest mistake is however if the patient attends a special examination late or possibly already before care.Special attention mast be paid to atopy of all forms in particular atopic slon diathesis and atopic eczema because an extremely high number of atopic patients is diagnosed in out-patient surgeries for eczema/dermatitis of the band and occupational dermatoses.Atopy has been considered for a long time the causal basis and cofactor in the development of persistent dermatitis of the band.Screening of risk subjects and their allocation to suitable occupations is an important task for doctors who evaluate these influences. This pertains in particular to subjects with a history of atopic eczema, in particular of the hands for which in particular wet work, irritants and potem allergens are a risk. A significant risk occupation are some health workers and it applies in general tkat atopy at least doubles the risk of development of contact dermatitis of the band, where otherwise eczema/dermatitis of the band is a common problem.

Key words:
eczema/dermatitis of the band- morphogenesis - risk factors - occupational eczema/dermatitis of the band - examination - chronic eczema - prognosis - therapy - prevention.