INTRODUCTION Atopy is a complex disorder characterized by affinity for elevated titre of IgE antibodies against one or more ubiquitous antigens, by the joint respiratory and skin manifestations, that is caused by an individual gene structure. Urticaria is a monomorphous dermatosis meaning a short-lived eruption of urticaria, characterized by circumscript edema of superficial dermis. AIM The objective of this study was to establish a participation of atopic genesis in the examined groups, on the basis of the questionnaire results. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study involved 184 subjects, 10-60 years old, divided into the group with atopic diseases (70), the group with chronic urticaria (66), and the group with healthy controls (48). The questionnaire contained data on the family and personal history, clinical symptoms (dry skin, sneezing, eye-tearing, heavy breathing, etc.), and total IgE values in periphery blood. Each of these symptoms was qualified by curtain number of points (0.5-2), and the testees were classified into the groups according to the total score: with no atopic diathesis (0-8), unclear atopic diathesis (8-12), probable atopic diathesis (12-16), and clear atopic diathesis (over 16 points). RESULTS atopic diathesis (probable and clear) was confirmed in 70% of subjects in the atopic disease group, in 27.3% subjects with chronic urticaria, while in the healthy controls atopic diathesis was not registered (probable and clear).Statistical significance is present between atopic diseases group (15.4 +/- 3.6) and the rest of groups (8.8 +/- 3.9) according to the total score values in the questionnaire (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Atopic diathesis monitoring used in our study was proved as a good method for atopy recognition, that is confirmed statistically, as well. The score value was tested by the logistic regression, which enabled a possibility of atopic diseases prediction on the basis of the total score value from the questionnaire.

Allergic contact dermatitis is acute or chronic inflammatory skin disease of allergic etiology, which develops as a result of delayed type of hypersensitivity, i.e. type IV reaction according to the Gell and Coombs classification. In the retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of 495 patients diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis in the 1988-1998 period. The records were obtained from the Cabinet of Allergology of the Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Tuzla University Hospital Center. There were 312 women and 183 men, aged between 18 and 60 years. The patients were divided into 6 groups according to their occupation. Contact sensitization was established in 295 or 59.6% of them. The type and frequency of causative agent in allergic contact dermatitis depended on working environment. Potassium dichromate, a component part of cement, caused positive reaction in 48% of construction workers tested, which was significantly more than in the "other occupation" group, where 14.6% of patients showed positive reaction to potassium dichromate (p<0.001). Formaldehyde, used in leather processing, was the most frequent among the four leading allergens in the group of shoe workers (13.3%), whereas charcoal tar (used in the metal processing) was the most frequent allergen in the group of metal workers (13.9%). Nickel sulfate, potassium dichromate, cobalt chloride, and urushiol were frequent allergens in the "other occupation" group, housewives, and textile workers. The listed allergens are present at large in everyday life as well as in particular occupations.

Scabies is very often parasites dermatosis. Diagnostic problems are not rare considering the fact that the clinical picture of scabies in infant population is different compared to the adult population. The scabies that is untreated or non-adequately treated has a long course followed by complications. In hospital in Tuzla in a period 1995-1997 we have done retrospective study which included 64 infants with scabies followed with complications. Skin changes have appeared approximately 2-6 months before admission to the hospital. In 55.3% cases the scabies stayed unrecognized and the aforementioned patients were treated under other diagnosis: Dermatitis allergic 50%, Piodermia 30%, Dermatitis seborrhoica 10%, Dermatosis 10%. Problem is the medical treatment of only sick child, and not of complete family. That makes possibility for inter-family infestation and prolongs course of scabies as disease as well as its medical treatment. In infants with skin changes we should also consider possibility of infection by parasite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Medical treatment and appropriate diagnostic as well as treatment of all members of the families without the matter of existence of skin changes makes the course of disease shorter.