Dental and Medical Problems

Dent Med Probl
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ISSN 1644-387X (print)
ISSN 2300-9020 (online)
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Dental and Medical Problems

2017, vol. 54, nr 4, October-December, p. 397–401

doi: 10.17219/dmp/80101

Publication type: original article

Language: English

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Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 Open Access

Hand eczema among Lebanese dentists: An epidemiological study

Wyprysk rąk u libańskich lekarzy dentystów – badanie epidemiologiczne

Samar Bou Jaoude1,A,B,C,D, Nada Naaman1,E, Edgard Nehme1,E, Jeanine Gebeily1,E, Maha Daou2,A,E,F

1 Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

2 Research Section, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract

Background. Dentists are at risk of developing hand eczema, as are most people who work in the health care field.
Objectives. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hand eczema and allergies among a sample of Lebanese dentists to understand their probable causes and propose solutions to reduce their occurrence.
Material and Methods. A total of 314 Lebanese dentists, who practiced different specialties of dentistry, after giving verbal consent, completed an anonymous questionnaire that focused on occupational diseases. This study was approved by the ethics committee of Saint-Joseph University (USJ) of Beirut, Lebanon. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software for Windows. The alpha error was set to 0.05.
Results. The mean age of the participants was 39.2 (±11.66) years (58.6% male). The results showed that 15.3% (n = 48) of the surveyed dentists developed allergies to latex gloves, 2.5% (n = 8) developed allergies to resins, and 3.8% (n = 12) developed allergies to glutaraldehyde.
Conclusion. This study showed that a large number of Lebanese dentists suffer from hand eczema. It is important to note that not all skin reactions are related to gloves or natural rubber latex. Dentists should be aware of hand eczema symptoms, the common allergens contained in dental materials, the prevention and the appropriate treatment of occupational skin diseases.

Key words

latex, occupational disease, gloves, glutaraldehyde, methacrylate

Słowa kluczowe

lateks, choroba zawodowa, rękawice, aldehyd glutarowy, metakrylan

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