Construction workers who helped repair damaged structures after hurricanes Katrina and Rita were found to have four distinct skin disorders, according to an article published today in Archives of Dermatology (JAMA/Archives).
The authors explain that skin diseases/disorders are commonly found among people after floods and hurricanes. However, not much research has been carried out after outbreaks occur. The researchers write “Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, and Hurricane Rita on Sept. 24, 2005. Syndromic surveillance in New Orleans, Louisiana, following these hurricanes indicated that 22 percent of diseases treated were dermatologic conditions (i.e., skin or wound infections and rashes).”
Rebecca Noe, M.P.H., CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Atlanta, and team looked at survey results, skin biopsy samples and the environmental exposures of 136 construction workers – all of them civilians who worked and lived at a New Orleans military base during August 2005 – October 2005. The majority of these workers had limited sanitation facilities and lived in tents and wooden huts.
Of 136 workers
— 58 reported rash, an attack rate of 42.6 percent
— 41 (70.7 percent) of those who reported a rash were examined for diagnosis
— 27 (65.9 percent) had papular urticaria, a sensitivity reaction to insect bites resulting in solid raised bumps on the skin
— 8 (19.5 percent) had bacterial folliculitis, an infection causing inflammation around the hair follicles
— 6 (14.6 percent) had fiberglass dermatitis, an irritation and inflammation of the skin from contact with fiberglass
— 2 (4.9 percent) had brachioradial photodermatitis, an abnormal skin reaction to sunlight causing irritation and burning in the arms.
Native American workers who were roofers or slept in huts that had been flooded during Katrina were more likely to develop papular urticaria than the other workers, the researchers observed. The Native American workers had a higher incidence of fiberglass dermatitis, compared to workers of other races.
The researchers concluded “A suspected mite infestation of flooded housing units is the most plausible hypothesis, although we were unable to identify the arthropod (insects, spiders and scorpions) source. People working and living in post-hurricane environments where flooding has occurred may be at an increased risk of exposure to arthropods. To reduce dermatologic morbidity, we suggest avoiding flooded areas, fumigating with an acaricide (pesticide), wearing protective clothing and using arthropod repellant.”
2007;143(11):1393-1398
Written by – Christian Nordqvist