Symptoms and signs reported during patch testing.

BACKGROUND:In a pilot questionnaire study, there was a high frequency of subjective complaints and distant skin reactions during patch testing as reported at the day of test reading, particularly in female patients. OBJECTIVE: To document in a controlled study possible side-effects of a generalized nature occurring during the test procedure. METHODS: A questionnaire study on symptoms and signs reported at application and at reading of standard patch tests was conducted with 401 patients, with the patients serving as their own controls. RESULTS: An eczematous flare-up during patch testing was observed in 3.7% of the patients. There were plenty of different symptoms of malaise but, with one exception (itch on the back), the number of symptoms tended to be less on the day of reading than on the day of application of the tests. This held true also for itch occurring in the patients' dermatitis. There was no statistical correlation between symptoms and signs on the one hand and positive patch tests on the other. CONCLUSION: Distant skin reactions and impairment of general health occurring during patch testing are often reported at the time of test reading. However, with the exception of itch on the back, symptoms and signs are rather less common after the application of patch tests than before.