Indirect costs are likely to be high, as patients experiencing an acute episode of dermatitis are usually incapacitated and unable to work or attend school. With the recent recognition of allergy as a speciality in its own right, it is hoped that more allergy clinics will be set up to provide more patients with access to expert advice, tests, and appropriate management plans. Pharmacists have a significant role in advising patients because often the prescriber will not notice that a patient is relying excessively on an inapppropriate drug. It is possible that a specialist referral would help with better control of symptoms. Well controlled allergic patients are less likely to need hospital care or to lose time at work or school.
Contact dermatitis is one of the major occupational diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, it represents the most frequent occupational disease and accounts for many millions of work days lost per year. Allergy tests Skin prick tests These are useful for providing rapid answers on which allergens are implicated in an allergy. Small drops of individual allergen is placed on the skin of the inner arm or back and pricked through with a sterile lancet. Results are visible in 10-15 minutes, a weal is formed for each positive result. Positive and negative controls are used to reduce the chance of false results.