An Epidemiologic Study on an Outbreak of Dermatosis Associated with Moths at a Factory

독나방에 의한 피부질환의 집단 발생에 관한 역학 조사

An outbreak of dermatosis occurred at a machine manufacture factory in Kyongju on Aug 1995. Authors conducted a questionnaire ,survey among 92 workers in the factory and a dermatologist examined their skin lesions. Authors also collected moths and identified them. The results are as follows; 1. Forty-two cases of dermatosis were identified with attack rate of 45.7%. Attack rate was not different by company, age, sex, educational level and duration of employment. Attack rate was 47.8% among productive workers, 25.0% among clerical workers and 100.0 % among patrolmen. 2. Two cases among 42 dermatosis cases and three subjects among 50 non-cases had a history of same dermatosis last year. Four of dermatosis cases had a history of dermatosis among their family members. 3. Skin lesions of the cases were scattered or grouped rice-sized erythematous papules or vesicles. Duration of dermatosis from the onset to the time of survey was from one day to more than 30 days. The most frequent site of skin lesion was the arms(81.0 %), and it was also observed at the neck(47.6 %), abdomen(45.2 %), chest(42.9 %), legs(38.1 %) and back(35.7 %). Skin lesion was aggravated with sweating(31.0 %), after shower(16.7 %) and with scratching(11.9 %). 4. Moths were collected and identified as Euproctis subflava (Bremer). Many poisonous stings were observed on their wngs which is harmful to human. 5. Contact with moths' wing droppings to two authors on thier forearms for provocation resulted in severe immediate pain followed by prolonged pruritus. Erythematous macules quickly appeared and succeeded by firm wheal-like red papules. Authors thought that the outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by Euproctis subflava (Bremer). Further studies on the factors contributing to the prosperity of the moths in this area are needed.