Australian Bush Dermatitis: Compositæ Dermatitis in South Australia

Airborne contact dermatitis from Compositae plants in northern India

“…In this study, positive patch tests were seen both in males (98%) and in females (73%). This finding is at variance with previous studies of contact dermatitis from Compositae plants (4,19,20,21), where contact allergy occurred almost exclusively in males. A change is now to be expected as more and more women, especially in this part of the world, take up gardening as a hobby or floristry as an occupation, and enter outdoor occupations such as farming and construction work.…”

The enigma of chronic photosensitivity

“…The exact status of this type of contact allergy in these patients is uncertain but the prevalence of positive skin tests suggests that there might be some association. There is no doubt that some plant oleoresins can cause contact dermatitis (Burry et al, 1973;Lonkar, Mitchell & Calnan, 1974) and chrysanthemum sensitivity can mimic photosensitivity (Hjorth, Roed-Petersen, & Thomsen, 1976). However, if we look at the problem from the point of view of patients with established plant contact dermatitis, there is little evidence that true photosensitivity plays an important role (Crounse, 1980), but it must be stressed that investigation in this area has been limited and data are sketchy at the best.…”

Drug Photoallergy

“…27 Certain plant substances can cause photoallergic dermatitis, for example, in the midwest region of the U.S., compositae photodermatitis due to ragweed is quite common. 29 A similar dermatitis possibly with a component of photoall ergy due to related species ha s been described in Australia and ha s been d esignated "Australian bush dermatitis." 2 H It is quite likely that more iorms of plant photodermatitis occur in other reg ions, possibly due to plants in the sa me family.…”