The prevalence of nickel allergy among women. An epidemiological study in hospitalized female patients.

Through an interview examination among hospitalized female patients the prevalence of nickel allergy has been found unexpected high. 241 patients have been invesitgated, of them 20 gave history compatible with nickel allergy. Five of them had had hand eczema, the four of them only for short periods. The study concludes, that larger epidemiologic studies are necessary to evaluate the frequence of hand eczema in nickel sensitive patients and its prognosis in relation to environmental factors.