OCCUPATIONAL DERMATOSES

--A PROGRAM FOR PHYSICIANS--

Supplemental Slides on Occupational Dermatology Case Studies

(Contributed by Capt. James W. Steger, M.D., U.S. Navy)

This patient was seen several months after the Gulf War with recurrent blisters with minor rubbing and friction and spontaneously as well on the right wrist in a very localized area. During Desert Storm he was assigned as an NBC warfare specialist, and after finding some Iraqi chemical agents, he spilled them on himself while examining them. Although he was wearing full MOP gear, because of the heat, he had rolled up his sleeves while still wearing gloves. He decontaminated the chemical injury very quickly, but has continued to have recurrent blistering in the areas of original injury. This represents a case of dermatitis in loco minoris resistensia (dermatitis in an area of decreased local resistance due to previous injury to the skin). It was felt that the original chemical was Lewisite, or a Lewisite like agent.