Charysanthemum contact dermatitis: Clinical patterns and patch testing with ethanolic extracts

Abstract

Forty patients with suspected chrysanthemum contact dermatitis and 20 age and sex matched controls were patch tested with ethanolic extracts of Chrysanthemum morifolium. Eighteen (45%) patients demonstrated positive patch tests. Out of these 10 (56%) patients gave a history of photoaggravation and 9 (50%) of seasonal variation. Dermatitis involving hands and face only, widespread dermatitis and airborne contact dermatitis were the common clinical patterns seen. Patients with occupational exposure to chrysanthemums demonstrated the maximum positive reactions. All the 18 patients showed positive patch tests with the extracts of flowers, 17 with leaves, 16 with whole plant and only 4 with the stem.