[Difficulties in medico-legal diagnosis of occupational dermatoses in women sensitive to nickel].

The frequency of positive results of patch tests with nickel was analysed in 1044 patients with positive results of patch tests examined because of suspected occupational diseases in the years 1977-1988. More frequent presence of allergy to nickel was demonstrated in women (21.8%) than men (6.9%), and it was found that the allergy to this metal has increased sixfold in women in the period 1985-1988 in relation to the period 1977-1980. A particularly high increase of the allergy to nickel in women was observed in the last year (69.4%). This increase of allergy was noted not only in young women but also in middle-aged ones. In women monovalent allergy to nickel and bivalent allergy to nickel and cobalt prevailed, while in men bivalent allergy to nickel and chromium was most frequent. The problems of diagnosis and expertise in occupational diseases in women with allergy to nickel present in metal jewelry and working in contact with metals in occupation are discussed.