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A case of occupational allergic dermatitis attributed to contact with sunflowers was summarized. A 62 year old male cowherd complaining of a 12 month (mo) history of forehead dermatitis was evaluated. He had a history of hay fever and he reported handling cattle fodder over the past 6mo. Topical treatment with corticosteroids had provided relief, but the dermatitis rapidly recurred when treatment was discontinued. The patient was patch tested with the European standard allergen series, a Compositae-plant series, a cosmetics series, Helcanthus pollen, samples of the cattle fodder he handled, and sunflower leaves. Positive responses were produced only by sunflower leaves and the cattle fodder samples. Prick testing was performed with olea, wees, graminea pollen, and sunflower pollen and serum total and sunflower pollen specific immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels were determined. Prick testing produced positive responses to olea, wees, and graminea pollen, but not sunflower pollen. Sunflower pollen specific IgE antibodies were detected; however, total IgE concentrations were within the normal range. The authors note that the cattle fodder the patient handled contained sunflower plants and that he had daily contact with it. Problems encountered in testing for Compositae-plant (which includes sunflowers) allergy are summarized.
Contact Dermatitis, 35(3):189-190, 1996. (8 references)
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