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Contact dermatitis due to xanthium strumarium
Correspondence Address:
J S Pasricha
How to cite this article: Pasricha J S, Bhaumik P, Agarwal A. Contact dermatitis due to xanthium strumarium. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1990;56:319-321 |
Abstract
A 50-year-old mining engineer at Dhanbad was having air bome contact Dermatitis suspected to be caused by Xanthium strumarium. Patch tests with a 15% aqueous extract of air dried leaves showed a severe positive reaction, but the patient also had positive patch tests with Parthenium hysterphorus and a few other weeds and trees known to cause air-borne contact dermatitis. The titre of contact hypersensitivity with the extract of Xanthium struma'rium was more than 1:100,000 and for Parthenium hysterophrous it was 1:10 indicating a high degree of hypersensitivity to Xanthium strumarium. Further tests in 14 other patients revealed a high prevalence of cross sensitivity between these two plants both of which belong to the compositae family.