| Summary: | Introduction: The patterns of positive patch test in Nepal have not been defined so far. The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of patch test reactivity in suspected Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) patients. Methods: This was a hospital based retrospective study performed to investigate patch test reactivity in patients with ACD from April, 2016 through October, 2016. The data of patients who underwent patch test during this period were extracted and analyzed. Results: A total of 35 patients were included in the study. Nineteen (54.3%) tested positive to either one or more allergens. Among them, 17 (89.4%) reacted positively to a single allergen. The following patterns of positives were seen: nickel sulfate, 5 (26.3%), fragrance mix 3 (15.7%), and parthenium 3 (15.7%). Cobalt sulfate, formaldehyde, potassium dichromate, benzocaine, nitrofurazone, chlorocresol each was positive in single patient. Majority of the patients were housewives (22.6%) followed by students and officers (13% each), farmers (10%), health care workers (9.7%), wet work (6.5%) and others (20). Less than half (45%) of the hand eczema showed positive patch test. Similarly,40% of the patient of scattered generalized dermatitis showed reactivity to parthenium, nickel sulfate and multiple antigens. Conclusions: The most common allergens identified were nickel sulfate, fragrance mix and parthenium. Since, there is no well defined contact allergen in the Nepalese community, so patch test kits developed elsewhere might not have been beneficial and calls for need of large scale investigation to identify the local allergens.
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