Generalised dermatitis

The difficulties and dangers of systemic adrenal steroid therapy are sufficient to restrict such use to serious conditions (such as pemphigus and generalised exfoliative dermatitis) not responsive to other forms of therapy. 

Often there is a sharp cut-off point dehned by the area of contact, but in longstanding dermatitis irritation may become generalised and spread to areas not in contact with the allergen. 

The patients considered to have allergic reactions to drugs ranged over the whole spectrum of clinical syndromes from systemic reactions, generalised exanthemas, haematological diseases, to allergic contact dermatitis. 

Psoriasis is a chronic proliferative inflammatory skin condition. The severity of the condition ranges from mild focal involvement to generalised exfoliative dermatitis. The clinical course is also unpredictable. 

With the exception of generalised dermatitis and Steven-Johnson syndrome from trichloroethylene (see below), the dermatoses caused by solvent exposure are considered to be comparatively benign and rarely a cause for job change or pension. In a Danish publication of notified occupational eczematous diseases 1984-1991 (Halkier-Sorensen 1996), exposure to solvents was the cause in 991 cases (3.6%) and was placed fifth in the ranking list. Higher frequencies were found for water (13.9%), detergents (11.6%), nickel (5.4%) and hand cleansers and soaps (3.9%). 

Flushing, generalised dermatitis and Steven-Johnson syndrome - from trichloroethylene Whitening... 

Exposure to trichloroethylene has been associated with cases of generalised dermatitis (Bauer and Rabens 1974) and of Steven-Johnson syndrome (Phoon et al. 1984). Several of the patients had signs of liver dysfunction (toxic hepatitis) and one fatal case was reported (Nakayama et al. 1988). From the case reports, however, it is somewhat hard to judge what route of absorption - inhalation or percutaneous absorption - had dominated. 

The Compositae (Asteraceae, daisy family) are important causes of allergic contact dermatitis (Paulsen et al. 1997 Paulsen 1998 Wrangsjo and Ros 1996), affecting the hands, face and V of the neck and even becoming generalised, sometimes leading to... 

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