[Allergic reaction to merthiolate (a disinfectant) based on material from the Occupational Medicine Institute in Lodz].

Incidence and causes of allergy to merthiolate (thimerosal) was studied in 685 patients, examined in the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, during the period from 1 September 1993 to 15 October 1995. Allergy to thimerosal was diagnosed in 39 persons (5.7%) including 25 (6.3%) females and 14 (4.9%) males. Health service workers predominated among those sensitized (13.8% of all medical personnel examined during that period). In 19 persons only allergy to mercury was observed. Among them 7 showed no skin changes, 6 manifested symptoms of hand dermatitis, in 4 patients atopic dermatitis and in 2 dermatitis diseminata were diagnosed. Two patients suffered from allergic rhinitis. It was found that the general vaccination of health service workers against viral hepatitis as well as immunotherapy with pollen preparations containing thimerosal (Catalet, Biomed, Poland) were the main causes of allergy to mertiolate. Allergy to thiosalicyclic acid was not observed and two persons reacted positively to mercuric chloride.