Lettuce allergy : allergies in the workplace

A casual worker in a vegetable-packing plant developed hand and forearm eczema soon after commencing work in the lettuce-packing section. Despite a negative standard battery, targeted patch testing revealed lettuce as the offending agent; this highlights the need to use the patient's own materials identified from an appropriate risk assessment of the workplace in cases of suspected allergy. Development of her eczema may have been facilitated by chronic exposure to water, emphasising the need for workers to have access to gloves, and education about their correct use.