Seasonal Variation in Patch Test Results with European Baseline Series

Aïcha Brahem; Haifa Aroui; Asma Gaddour; Asma Chouchene; Asma Aloui; Imen Kacem; Maher Maoua; Houda Kalboussi; Olfa ElMaalel; Souhail Chatti; Faten Dabbabi; Nejib Mrizek

doi:10.1155/2020/8316753

Seasonal Variation in Patch Test Results with European Baseline Series

Dermatol Res Pract. 2020 Nov 12:2020:8316753. doi: 10.1155/2020/8316753. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
² Depatment of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital Ibnou El Jazzar, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.

Abstract

Aim: To study the influence of season on patch tests results.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective epidemiological study which concerned all the patients of the Tunisian center, who consulted in the Dermato-Allergology Unit of Occupational Medicine Department of Farhat Hached University Hospital-Sousse (Tunisia) over a period of 07 years. All the patients were tested by the European Standard Battery allergens (BSE).

Results: The data of 1000 patch tests were analyzed during the study period. More than half of the patch tests (58.6%) was positive. In winter, 63% of patch tests showed a positive reaction versus 52% of patch tests in summer without a statistically significant association. However, results of lanolin alcohols, epoxy resin, and Sesquiterpene lactone mix varied significantly with season. Atopy was significantly associated with 18.8% of positive reactions in winter and only with 5.2% of positive reactions in summer (p = 0.015).

Conclusion: Seasonal variations in patch tests results were more significant with some allergens of European Standard Battery and in atopic patients.