Cost and diagnostic characteristics of toxicodendron dermatitis in the USA: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis

Plant Dermatitis

Plant dermatitis is a common pathology that plagues those who work and recreate in the North American outdoors. The most common plant family to cause dermatitis is the Toxicodendron genus, which includes the plants known by the common names of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. While mortality is usually quite low for this pathology, the incidence and prevalence of the disease leads to substantial healthcare burden and financial implications across the population. The mainstays of treatment have focused on prevention, corticosteroids, and antihistamines.

Establishing Consensus on the Treatment of Toxicodendron Dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Toxicodendron dermatitis (TD) is a common form of allergic contact dermatitis that affects millions of Americans every year. Studies have shown that although there are general recommendations for the treatment of TD, there are no treatment algorithms for clinicians to follow when patients present with TD.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to achieve consensus on the treatment of TD to create practical guidelines for physicians who treat TD.

METHODS

Data were collected from March 2020 to April 2021. This study included semistructured focus groups and a Delphi Study with dermatologists to achieve consensus.

RESULTS

A total of 51 dermatologists were included in the Delphi. Final agreement with proposed severity criteria ranged from 90.9% to 100.0%. Primary indicators of disease severity were body surface area, presence and severity of pruritus, and anatomic locations of eruptions with 77.4% agreement. Final agreement for the treatment algorithm was over the threshold majority agreement at 67.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Literature guiding the treatment of TD is scarce. The use of the Delphi method and focus groups can help expand dermatological resources both within dermatology and to other specialties that may need to treat skin conditions.