The results of the partnership between the medical care unit of dermatology and occupational diseases in the diagnosis of suspected cases of occupational dermatoses

Introduction
Occupational dermatoses represents a considerable portion of job-related diseases. Since 2005 the Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical Sciences College has structured an Occupational Diseases’ Attendance Unit which has joined the various support services rendered by the Central Hospital to clarify cases of occupational disease. A partnership was established between this unit and the dermatology service of the Hospital.

Methods
It was reviewed the 41 cases of occupational dermatoses, registered by the attendance unit for occupational diseases from January 2008 to May, 2010, and, the visit reports for two patient cases treated that was considered exemplary.

Results
These patients had an average age of 40, predominantly male. The allergic dermatitis was the more frequent diagnosis, 23 cases (56.1%). It was found the potassium dichromate, which is strongly associated with the cement, like the more positive substance, showing reaction in 41% of the total patch tests. The predominant occupational activities of the patients were associated with the civilian construction - 12 patients (29,2%). There is presented two cases like exemplary of this partnership work. One of them is a case of dermatitis caused by epoxy resin that affected a woman, 45 year-old who worked with the handcrafting of metal coats of arms; the second is of dermatitis caused by cement in a male, 30 year-old patient, construction worker who had widespread eczema.

Discussion
The partnership between dermatology clinical and occupational diseases’s ambulatory is very important to define evaluate the dermatoses with patch test and patient’s labor. Unfortunately, a significant proportion (26.8%) did not remain in place and monitoring, not returning for consultations in dermatology and / or the Occupational Diseases Clinic, complicating the resolution of cases. The partnership of these two units contributes not only the learning of occupational medicine but also the increase of more precise diagnosis of the cases.